Egyptian security officials inspect the site of a bomb blast, in Giza, Egypt, 09 December 2016. NurPhoto\/SIPA USA\/PA Images. All rights reserved.\u201cThe army is a killing machine.\u201d – These
\nwere words chosen by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to address his
\nsoldiers as minister of defense. In a video leaked nearly three years ago, he explained why the army
\nis incapable of fighting terrorism, why it should not partake in it and vowed
\nthis will never be its role. \u201cIt is not
\nan arresting machine, we don\u2019t know how to arrest,\u201d he explained. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we say this in the media? Because
\nit\u2019s not useful, people are unable to understand.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
True to Sisi\u2019s words,
\nthe army has been a killing machine, but breaking his vow, the army has placed
\nitself at the forefront of the fight against terror. Over 6,000 people have
\nbeen killed
\nin operations in North Sinai under claims of terrorism affiliated
\nactivities. <\/p>\n
Reports on the ground
\nhave indicated that there are far more indiscriminate arrests and killings than
\nthe army cares to share. These reports have been vindicated after the release
\nof a video showing unarmed men gunned down in cold blood
\nby men in army uniforms. They were blindfolded and shot in the head and torso
\npoint blank. Earlier the army had released photos and videos claiming that
\nthese eight men were terrorists killed in a gun fight.<\/p>\n
The video of the extrajudicial killings was released by The coldness of the Yet, as the authenticity of the video was established, supporters of the Sisi regime It would be inaccurate to dismiss the video showing these The army was actively involved in dispersing protests on 9 On 8 April \u00a02011 the More compelling Security violence Following Morsi\u2019s The violent dispersal systematic forced disappearances and torture inside Egyptian jails have Indications of the These leaked videos are It is not only the One must also recall the Why would the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Yet despite his apt So why is Egypt using The continued presence of The sustained fight More so, because of The simplistically na\u00efve In any case, violence These brutal practices There is a There certainly is a With a host of There is another Nabil managed to come Nabil witnessed the The security apparatus The Ministry of Interior A state of emergency The bombings are The failings are much deeper and are actively helping define targets for the state's enemies, such as state institutions and the Coptic church – whose leaders have unabashedly supported the regime.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s not only the Present policies leave Without knowledge of Under such conditions, It is no wonder then international support for more brutality through diplomatic Indeed, even for the police dealing with protesters, Sisi Furthermore, state This context is one where no one in Egypt, or perhaps the There is a price we the conscience of an entire nation is Numerous secular Yet Aya is considered Countless others like Others who have helped As terror attacks While the country\u2019s There The U.N. High It is not just prisons It is also the state that It is conveniently forgotten that the space for peaceful opposition In their efforts to gain security, many Egyptians have revolted against The Egypt we see today is radicalized in every way, from soldiers to The Egyptian regime has incarcerated citizens for political purposes, Yet no one in the world wants to call out Egypt because of its purported Egyptian security officials inspect the site of a bomb blast, in Giza, Egypt, 09 December 2016. NurPhoto\/SIPA USA\/PA Images. All rights reserved.\u201cThe army is a killing machine.\u201d – These were words chosen by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to address his soldiers as minister of defense. In a video leaked nearly three years ago, he…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMekameleen, a Muslim Brotherhood aligned channel, one day after US Secretary of
\nDefense Jim Mattis "affirmed
\nEgypt's pivotal role in the Middle East and commended its counter-terrorism
\nefforts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nmurders contrasted with the propaganda of the army sent shockwaves through viewers.
\nInitial reactions were that the video was fabricated. The regime moved quickly
\nurging its supporters to cast doubt on one bearded man in army uniform,
\nclaiming that the army does not allow for beards nor nonstandard issue T-Shirts,
\nand that there were people wearing long sleeves while others wore summer
\nclothing.<\/p>\n
\ndefended extrajudicial killings targeting terrorists. For example, in a
\nstrange effort to defend the army and yet condone the practices of the video,
\nEgyptian member of parliament John Talaat denied the army\u2019s involvement in any
\nsystematic extrajudicial killings yet expressed
\nhis disappointment that this was not the case.<\/p>\nThe trail<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nextrajudicial killings as an isolated incident. The army\u2019s use of torture was\u00a0reported
\nas early as January 2011 to help contain the January 25 revolution. <\/p>\n
\nMarch 2011 where protesters were taken to the Egyptian museum, tortured and
\nhumiliated. They were later sentenced to prison in farcical military trials as
\ndescribed by victims who were later released. Women arrested were also
\nsubjected to the infamous virginity tests which Sisi
\nhimself admitted to. <\/p>\n
\narmy attacked protesters killing two. Footage of army violence against
\ndetainees was also reported through testimonies and leaked videos.<\/p>\n
\nperhaps is the event known as the Maspero massacre in October 2011 where the army ran over and shot
\nnearly 27 protestors outside the television building. Later the military was
\ninvolved in clashes with demonstrators and in December violently targeted women,
\npart
\nstripping one of them, in what became famously known as the \u2018blue bra\u2019 incident.<\/p>\n
\nagainst Egyptian citizens without due process was also rampant under Morsi\u2019s
\nshort rule. More importantly, following the military takeover of 3 July 2013,
\nwe are presented with even more evidence that the army became more brutal than
\never.<\/p>\n
\nremoval, a man was
\nshot point blank on July 5 opposite the
\nRepublican Guard headquarters as he attempted to cross the street holding a
\nMorsi poster. That day five people were killed. Shortly after, the death toll increased
\ndramatically; 51 people were killed at another Republican Guard dispersal
\non 8 July, and over
\n70 later that same month in Nasr City.<\/p>\n
\nof the Rabaa and Nahda sit-ins left at least 900 dead. It was only
\nexceptional in terms of numbers, but not in terms of systematic brutal
\ncrackdown on the public. This was followed by clashes in October 2013, where at
\nleast 51
\npeople died. <\/p>\n
\nalienated numerous Egyptians <\/p>\n
\nwidespread targeting of North Sinai residents did not stop; another leaked
\nvideo of the army humiliating and torturing \u00a0an
\nalready wounded Egyptian citizen surfaced.<\/p>\n
\nbut a small subsection of other reports of army brutality. Investigations into North
\nSinai, which is cut off from the media, indicate that army brutality in dealing
\nwith residents has led to a shift
\nin sympathy towards militants. <\/p>\n
\ntargeted killing but systematic forced disappearances and torture inside Egyptian jails that have
\nalienated numerous Egyptians. <\/p>\n
\narmy\u2019s murder of eight Mexican
\ntourists in the desert and the recent torture and murder of Giulio
\nRegeni. Regeni\u2019s murder not only implicates Egypt\u2019s security apparatus and
\npoliticians, but was covered up by five extra judicial killings to frame citizens who had nothing to do with
\nRegeni\u2019s murder. <\/p>\nUnderstanding why<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\narmy target innocents? We can attempt to attribute it to merely incompetence
\nand ineffectiveness, but such an answer presents a contradiction. <\/p>\n
\nAl-Sisi knows full well that these methods are counter-productive. In a leaked clip that shows
\nSisi addressing the army, as minister of defense, he expresses clearly that
\nforcefully evicting residents in North Sinai creates an enemy that will divide
\nthe country and he cited the example of South Sudan. He expressed a mature
\nunderstanding that one creates security \u201cthrough
\npresence, not through fighting.<\/em>\u201d He warned the army of using practices that
\nrandomly target innocent residents. <\/p>\n
\nanalysis, Sisi seems to be taking steps in the exact opposite direction and if
\nhis own reasoning is used, the result would be the creation of a domestic
\nenemy.<\/p>\n
\nthe exact same tactics that Sisi warned against? It is difficult to speculate.
\nIt might be that Sisi changed his views and realized he was mistaken earlier. But
\nit\u2019s also possible that the present outcome is desirable. <\/p>\n
\nradical extremists is a guarantee that Sisi will have international support<\/p>\n
\nagainst extremists comes with a few benefits. Countries like the US, France and
\nthe UK are invested in fighting radical extremists. The continued presence of
\nradical extremists is a guarantee that Sisi will have international support
\nfrom these major countries. <\/p>\n
\nthis fight, the international community is turning a blind eye to the internal
\nabuse against activists, Islamists and the opposition which strengthens Sisi\u2019s
\nsecurity grip on the country. <\/p>\n
\napproach of many western diplomats towards the war on terror is all the
\nammunition Sisi needs to sustain his rule. <\/p>\n
\nand torture come in many flavors in a police state. Some of it is very
\ndeliberate in order to establish power, create an enemy or punish certain
\ncommunities outside of the law, but sometimes this violence is out of sheer
\nhabit, a way to coerce and get things done or just a mode of daily operations.<\/p>\nConsequences <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nare conducive to a culture of radicalization and the consequences are grave. The
\ndisplacement of Copts and recent terror activity against churches are a result
\nin one way or another.<\/p>\n
\ndanger of the radicalization of innocents who find terror attacks as the only means
\nof redress. <\/p>\n
\ndanger of the radicalization of innocents who find terror attacks as the only means
\nof redress. Indeed, the testimonies of many forcibly disappeared, particularly
\nNorth Sinai residents who were tortured
\nin Al Azouli prison in Ismaileya, is something
\nto consider. <\/p>\n
\nradicals incarcerated, prisons become rife for recruitment. With no room for
\npeaceful protest and opposition, many may be affected by mental instability,
\nviolent radicalization or a mixture of both.<\/p>\n
\ndanger of current practices. This is highlighted by Nabil El Boustany, a young man who had survived 70 days of
\nhaving been forcibly disappeared and detained in Al Azouli prison and whose
\nfamily has been explicitly lied to about his whereabouts. <\/p>\n
\naway with the experience without being radicalized and maintains a healthy
\nmental outlook on life. He says, \u201cThe
\ntrue danger of these practices isn\u2019t just that people get radicalized and plan
\ntheir revenge, but that the security apparatus does not do its real job and
\ncounter radicals and security threats.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
\nforcibly disappeared disappear again inside the prisons and claims that many he
\nmet inside military prison were not radicals and some were even Sisi
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
\nthat lazily kills innocents and then masquerades these killings as heroism
\ntends to then become inefficient at fighting real security threats. <\/p>\n
\nfor example has used many of its resources to hound and target peaceful
\nactivists for trivial things such as Facebook posts and expressing their
\nopinions, meanwhile, the perpetrators of the Tanta and Alexandria attacks
\nmanaged to find explosives, find their way into churches on Palm Sunday and detonate themselves leaving 45 dead and
\n126 injured.<\/p>\n
\nwas declared, but adds nothing and counters very little. Even without it, state
\ninstitutions have been operating freely without accountability. <\/p>\n
\nanother security failing, and not because the metal detectors were placed
\nincorrectly. There is little that police armed with metal detectors can do to
\nprevent a suicide bomber, they too have become victims of their institutions\u2019
\nfailed security policies. <\/p>\nMore targets<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nvictims who are affected but also those who inflict these injustices. <\/p>\n
\nsoldiers who serve in Sinai exposed as easy targets by militants. By alienating
\nNorth Sinai residents, the army has lost logistical cover necessary for
\nsecurity. Battles are not merely about superior weaponry, they also depend on
\nintelligence, training, information and governance, all of which are lacking among
\nthe men fighting in Sinai. <\/p>\n
\nthe terrain and community support, the army is like a foreign occupier. Without
\nthe help of Sinai residents, the soldiers are left out to dry at their stations with
\nuniforms on that paint them as targets. <\/p>\n
\nsoldiers no longer represent the nation nor defend it, they represent
\nthemselves and the most they can hope for is to be able to defend themselves.
\nThey lack proper knowledge, information and training to counter a local enemy.<\/p>\n
\nthat the other is dehumanized, and killings that happen on a daily basis become normalized. North
\nSinai has become a land where no laws apply, and the uniforms represent different
\nteams fighting on the ground. Soldiers will kill for survival and revenge,
\nknowing full well they are at risk and lacking the basics to keep them safe. Their
\nleaders will not ensure their safety nor will they hold them to account if they
\noperate outside the law, or even human decency. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\narms supplies continues<\/p>\n
\nhas assured that the context in which a police officer can be tried for killing
\na protester out of excessive force no longer exists. It is
\nclear that this policy applies even more so to army personnel targeting North
\nSinai residents.<\/p>\n
\nactors are now shielded from any form of questioning or accountability through
\nthe anti-terrorism law which not only protects security agencies but
\nallows them to pursue the opposition under the most convenient guise known as
\nthe \u2018war on terror\u2019.<\/p>\n
\nworld, is willing to hold an Egyptian officer or soldier accountable for any
\nviolation. On the contrary, international support for more brutality through diplomatic
\narms supplies continues. <\/p>\nThe price we pay<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nall pay as a nation for the failings of security policies. Soldiers with a dead
\nconscience, radicals with a dead conscience and an audience cheering either
\nside and justifying the violence. Both soldiers and citizens are dying, but
\nwhat\u2019s worse in the long run is that the conscience of an entire nation is
\ndying. <\/p>\n
\ndying<\/p>\n
\nactivists and innocent people languish in jail. One secular activist Aya Hijazi spent three years behind bars for having attempted to help street
\nchildren before finally being acquitted. <\/p>\n
\nlucky, a dual national whose case was highlighted internationally and was
\nacquitted only after pressure from US President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n
\nAya are in jail, without a president, without pressure, without a crime. <\/p>\n
\ncreate peaceful space for opposition like Alaa Abdel Fattah are also in jail. There
\nare over sixty thousand political prisoners in Egypt.<\/p>\n
\nincrease, some turn their focus to sectarian extremists who spout insults and
\nincite the killing of those they don\u2019t agree with. Some analysts may point to
\nthe nature of such extremist groups and undermine the role of the state. <\/p>\n
\ndirect sectarian violence pales in comparison to what these terror attacks
\nhighlight, the state\u2019s covert and open practices offer extremists the largest
\nsupport and conditions to operate. <\/p>\n
\nare over sixty thousand political prisoners in Egypt<\/p>\n
\nCommissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein expressed \u00a0that "…a state of emergency, the massive numbers of detentions,
\nreports of torture, and continued arbitrary arrests – all of this we believe
\nfacilitates radicalisation in prisons." <\/em><\/p>\n
\nthat offer extremists a larger pool to recruit from, it was the Supreme Council
\nof the Armed Forces rather than Mohamed Morsi, who set
\nmany Jihadis free, allowing a larger number
\nof them to return to Egypt following the 2011 revolution. <\/p>\n
\nreleased the perpetrators who had stripped an old Coptic woman of her clothes
\nand paraded her around a village, and it was the state that released the torturer and murderer of Magdy Makeen who yelled out to the police officer \u201cI\u2019m going to die<\/em>,\u201d to which the officer who
\nkilled him responded, \u201cDie Magdy<\/em>,\u201d<\/em> and he did.<\/p>\n
\nhelps counter extremism. This space for peaceful activism has been shrunk so
\nthat now any kind of dissent is criminalized, deemed illegal or even if not,
\npunishable by the regime. <\/p>\n
\naccountability and human rights, yet they have not attained that security they
\nstrive for. <\/p>\n
\nextremists to onlookers. Targeting the innocent does not just hurt those
\ntargeted, but society as a whole. Even those who abhor extremism and seek to
\nfight terror have ended up supporting it by cheering on those failed methods of
\ncounter terrorism. <\/p>\n
\ntorture is rampant in jails, its judiciary is coopted and criminality is
\nrampant in its institutions. <\/p>\n
\n\u2018war on terror\u2019 that many desire. The irony is that supporting Egypt\u2019s particular
\nbrand of fighting terrorism is equivalent to supporting a climate of expedited
\nradicalization.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"