The year 2006 witnessed 222 labor protests (sit-ins, strikes, demos), according to Al-Masry Al-Youm.
“The word ‘sit-in’ has become one of the most popular terms in Egypt’s political scene,” the paper wrote, “while some experts are expecting a popular uprising in the not so distant future.”
So Jimmi and Diga are getting married finally. Mabrouk for the royal family of Egypt.
While the two love birds are getting married on 28 April, Jimmi insisted the wedding to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, on 4 May–his daddy’s birthday:
Politician son of Egypt’s Mubarak to marry April 28
CAIRO, April 2 (Reuters) – Gamal Mubarak, the politician son of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, will marry on April 28 and the wedding party will take place on May 4, the independent newspaper Al Masry Al Youm reported on Monday.
His fiancee is Khadiga Mahmoud el-Gammal, the daughter of a wealthy building contractor, and they have been engaged since early 2006. Gamal Mubarak, 43, is almost 20 years older than Khadiga, who was born in 1982.
The Egyptian opposition and political analysts say many signs indicate that the Mubarak family and the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) intend that Gamal Mubarak should replace his father as president. The Mubaraks deny he has any presidential ambitions.
Officials at Gamal Mubarak’s office said they would not comment on his marriage plans.
The newspaper said the formal ceremony would take place in Cairo before the party in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 4, timed to coincide with Hosni Mubarak’s 79th birthday.
State Security police raided the house of Islamist lawyer Mamdouh Ismail on Thursday dawn, accusing him of “belonging to the Islamic Jihad and defaming Egypt’s image.”
I know Mamdouh, who has been one of the most active lawyers in defending Islamist detainees in courts, and I can say with confidence that State Security’s accusations are a pile of horseshit. His relationship with the Islamic Jihad (which as an organization ceased to exist) ended a long time ago.
I first met him in 2004. Despite the ideological disagreements, I’ve always respected his bravery in taking up torture cases of Islamist detainees. My last meeting with him was in February of this year, where he praised the bloggers’ activism, and told me he was planning to set up a blog for himself too.
He is now locked up in Liman Tora Prison. The Interior Ministry is responsible for his safety while in custody.
I hope to see him released soon.