Tag: nazif

PM Nazif posts comment on Trotskyist blog!

Posted on 10/08/200802/01/2021 By 3arabawy

PM Nazif is following Comrade Mostafa’s blog! The Daily News Egypt reports:

Egypt’s blogging community was stupefied to find a comment by Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif on a blog known for its opposition to the government.
One of the most heavily-criticized government officials in the blogsphere, Nazif confirmed that it was indeed he who posted the comment on “Ala Esm Masr” (In Egypt’s Name), a blog with a noticeably socialist tone run by Mustafa Mahmoud.
Since the post appeared on Aug. 5, the blog has witnessed an unprecedented level of activity.
In his comment, Prime Minister Nazif lauded the dialogue between youth in the blogosphere and the way they freely express their opinions on the political and economic issues facing Egypt.
“Opinions raised in the blogs can be useful in directing the country’s general policies [and] that is what encouraged me to follow and participate with you,” he said.
“You and your colleagues represent…a promising future with more democracy,” he added, addressing the writer of the blog.
Readers of the blog were stunned to find Nazif’s comment, and many were skeptical of the true identity of the person who made it.
One commenter who called themselves Gabhet El-Tahyees El-Sha’biya (The Public Nonsense Front) asked for proof that the comment was actually made by the prime minister. On the other hand, “anonymous” said that the writing style of the PM’s comment is similar to the one used by government officials, expressing satisfaction that their voices are being heard by the government.
Nazif confirmed his participation in the online discussion to Al-Masry Al-Youm, saying that he wanted to “clarify misunderstandings.”

Journalist side-lined for criticizing government in Al-Ahram column

Posted on 27/06/200802/01/2021 By 3arabawy

From the Daily News Egypt:

Local press reports allege that Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif has twice disqualified journalist and poet Farouk Goweida from nomination for membership of the Supreme Council for Culture over the past three months in retaliation for a series of articles critical of the government.
The article series titled “The Land Mafia,” which were published in the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, heavily criticized the government for not following due process when selling state-owned land to investors and businessmen.

US-backed Mubarak extends state of emergency for another 2 years

Posted on 26/05/200802/01/2021 By 3arabawy

Hosni Mubarak, has done it again:

Egypt on Monday extended a controversial decades-old state of emergency by two years despite pledges to replace it by new legislation, in a move slammed by rights groups as anti-constitutional.
“Parliament has accepted during its afternoon session today the decision by the president of the republic to extend the state of emergency for two years starting from June 1, or until a new terror law is drafted, whichever comes first,” the state news agency MENA said.
“It was passed with 305 votes in favor and 103 against,” Issam al-Mokhtar, an MP with the Muslim Brotherhood, told AFP by telephone.
The state of emergency was first imposed in 1981 after the assassination by Islamists of president Anwar Sadat and has been repeatedly renewed since then despite protests from rights groups and regime opponents.
Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif pledged to “only use the law in the fight against terrorism… and to protect the security of the nation and its citizens,” MENA reported.
“The government… has only used the articles of the law strictly for the goals intended, namely the fight against terrorism,” Nazif told parliament.
Last year, Judicial and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mufid Shehab said the state of emergency would end in 2008, even if the new anti-terror law meant to replace it was not ready.