Egypt’s Media War from the Perspective of an Expat



Published 2013-08-20 13:36:47
A recent participant in our series of expat interviews has been on our mind as Egypt's protests have erupted in an explosion of violence. With hundreds of people dead, it is difficult to tell what the situation is like for people living there. Read about Zareth's life in Cairo here, and find her account of the recent happenings in Egypt below*.

Cairo, EgyptWednesday morning was like any other, I woke up to make breakfast for my husband while he got ready for work. At seven in the morning his work phone interrupted the routine. A call from a friend changed the day completely. From that point on we rushed to the television to see the police making The Muslim Brotherhood abandoned the premises they were in.

As I watched, I knew this was coming. Ever since the Ex-President was thrown out, his followers have been protesting in different parts of Egypt. This has caused a lot of anger, the fact that his people have been saying we are peacefully protesting while of course being armed with weapons and attacking the police, army and the people.  

I guess we have been hearing different things from different points of view.  I will explain what is happening and let this be my opinion and what I am seeing with my own eyes, not them manipulation of the news.

A lot of you are wondering what is happening?  Is Egypt really going crazy? Civil War? Well, what if I told you that things are definitely not good and to top it all off we have a Media War. Personally I do not like politics, but unfortunately we live in a world full of it. So after the Ex-President Morsi was thrown out there were a few things the western media forgot to mention. Let’s get a little history here to understand my outrage, as well as that of the Egyptian people.

An Expat's Perspective

The Muslim Brotherhood has said that they will not mind losing their lives for defending Morsi.  Before ending the regime of Mubarak, Egyptians were armed with Media. They went to the streets but also they equipped themselves with their cellphones and tweeted and posted on Facebook letting the world know what was happening. Since then, everything that happens in Egypt is being documented in the same way. Be careful what news you watch as alliances make some sources not accountable.

Now, every time the Brotherhood protest they fight everyone who is not with them.  They want Morsi back to power and they will do anything to achieve it. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz announced that the kingdom supports Egypt in its fight “against terrorism”, meaning they do not support the Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian people in the revolution went to protest and in the pictures did you saw people armed with weapons? After many were murdered did you see people burning buildings to retaliate against the Army for the murders? The answer is no. Every time the people gather to protest they do it peacefully. I am a witness. I was there.

All this is like out of a movie, but it is real and I live it every day. For my safety, I only say that I want these people out of the streets. Egypt has gone through a lot of things and the Egyptians deserve peace. I am safe for now and I plan to keep it that way. As long as we stay in our homes and be careful we should be fine.

But people are getting angry with the bloodshed and the confrontation. Enough is enough. This has affected everything in our lives nobody is working and everybody is watching over their shoulder. I hope that the Army and the Police eliminate the threat to the Egyptian people caused by the Muslim Brotherhood who say that “Those who are not with us are against us”.

My opinion is not influenced by anyone. When you are living somewhere is easy to see with your own eyes what is going on, especially if you have to be vigilant and careful for your life. I know a few expats that are still in the country, although many of them left before the June 30 confrontation. Even not speaking the language and not being a local we see that the brotherhood is not friendly. I never thought I would find myself in the middle of something like this but neither the Egyptians. Pray for Egypt and for the end of this harassment to the Egyptians by these fanatics.  


Zareth R. Valentin writes as Caribbean Girl in Cairo. Currently living in Egypt, follow her musings and adventures in her blog http://cgoncairofficial.blogspot.com/.

*Note that these views are that of the blogger, and not necessarily that of EasyExpat. This post is meant to illustrate the views of an expat in Egypt and the effect the recent protests have had on her life.  

 

What is your perspective on the uprising in Egypt? Do you agree or disagree with this expat's perspective?

 


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