The Newsletter of

Middle East Studies Center, American University in

November/December 2006

THIS MONTH’S FEATURE:

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGY P T WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FROM THE DIRECTOR 3 JOEL BEININ

THE CARAVAN DEBATE: AN OVERVIEW 4 GARTH HALL

DESKILLING EGYPTIAN POLICE, PRIVATIZING TORTURE 6 HOSSAM EL-HAMALAWY

HUMAN RIGHTS IN : A SEARCH FOR A PUBLIC ATTITUDE 7 MONA HEIKAL

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A 2006 CALENDAR 8 GARTH HALL

LECTURE OF AMR HAMZAWY 13 LENKA BENOVA

MAKING IRAQ’S OIL WORK FOR IRAQIS 15 RORY A. MCNAMARA

BOOK REVIEW, HAMAS: POLITICS, CHARITY, AND TERRORISM 18 WILLIAM JON HUMMEL

ALUMNI UPDATES 19 LENKA BENOVA

Editor Garth Hall The views expressed here are those of their authors and not necessarily Editor J. Marshall Brown those of MESC, the editor, or the Associate Editor Rory A. McNamara Middle East studies program. Associate Editor Lenka Benova Associate Editor Danny Corbin OCTOBER 2006 Page 3

FROM THE DIRECTOR JOEL BEININ

‘Ashura and the City of Kar- being organized by Dr. Saad hope that everyone bala,” which was on display Eddin Ibrahim. It will take I had a restful ‘eid break at the Falaki Gallery from place shortly after Coptic and that we are all refreshed November 12-28. Christmas (January 6). For and ready to enter the sec- information, contact Dr. The Interdisciplinary Advisory ond half of the fall semester Saad’s student assistant, Committee has approved a with renewed energy and Maria Dayton at mariaday- proposal for a comprehensive commitment. [email protected]. Finally, reform in the requirements from January 4-25 the Middle for the M.A. degree in Middle East Studies Center will once East Studies, which was dis- The Middle East Studies again be offering our interdis- Dr. Joel Beinin is the new direc- cussed extensively in the last Center was very active during ciplinary course on “The tor of the Middle East Studies newsletter. The proposal has Center here at AUC. Before and immediately after Rama- Nile” (MEST 430) coordi- coming to AUC, he taught Mid- been approved by School of dan, sponsoring an iftar for nated by former center direc- dle East history at Stanford Humanities and Social Sci- University since 1983. students at the center and a tor and professor of political ences Academic Committee. suhur for affiliated faculty at science, Dr. Bahgat Korany. I will now go to the Senate the home of the director. The For information contact the Academic Committee. Cur- center’s seminar series on MESC program assistant, Ms. rent students will not be “The Political Culture and Rania Azer. obliged, although they are Political Economy of Modern encouraged to fulfill the new Islamic Movements” contin- requirements. If the reform ued with lectures by Monia Best wishes to all, is approved by the Senate, Atia, a doctoral candidate at there will be no spring se- the University of Washington, mester admissions after on "Spaces of Solidarity: Is- spring semester 2007 and Dr. Joel Beinin lamic Philanthropy in the new requirements will Cairo” (co-sponsored with the Director of Middle East Studies apply to students entering John D. Gerhart Center for the program in September Philanthropy and Civic En- 2007. Please look at the gagement); Dr. Mariz Tadros, Information for M.A. Students AUC Political Science Depart- page on the Center website. ment, on “The Muslim Broth- erhood - The Gender Agenda” (co-sponsored with MESC students should con- the Cynthia Nelson Institute sider several opportunities for Gender and Women’s for study and enrichment Studies and Dr. Dan Tschirgi; during the short winter se- and the AUC Political Science mester. First, there are inten- Department, on “The Search sive Arabic language courses for International Security available through the Arabic after 9/11.” Language Institute. Those The Center also co- interested should contact Dr. sponsored a photo exhibit by Zeinab Taha, director of the Deena Adeeb on “Sacred ALI. Second, a student trip to Spaces: Reconstructing and Palestine is WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 4

THE CARAVAN DEBATE: A REVIEW COMPILED BY GARTH HALL

On November 5th, the following letter to the editor was printed in AUC’s student newspaper, The Cara- One factual error to be noted: van: “The current issue purports to focus on Leba- Disturbing Change of Direction non…” for the Middle East Center's Newsletter (MESC) This statement, which is the crux for one of the letter’s main arguements, is incorrect. We are deeply disturbed by the Oct. 2006 issue of the Middle East Center (MESC) newsletter at AUC. The material it contains constitutes an The October newsletter “purports” to focus on the war in Leba- unacceptable departure from what was published in it during the last six years. It runs counter to the prevailing political sentiment at AUC and in non, in which the Israeli military played a rather large role. This the Arab region. As such, it can only damage the reputation of the uni- is why it includes articles touching on Lebanon, Hezbollah, Is- versity. Therefore, either the newsletter ceases to be political or is run by rael, and the Israeli military. an editorial board comprising at least members from the departments in which the students of the center take their courses. Below is a picture of the cover of the October MESC. As you can see, in large bold writing on the bottom—CAPS!—it reads: This The current issue purports to focus on Lebanon but instead focuses Month’s Feature—The War in Lebanon. on Israel and forwards Israeli perspectives. It does not include a single article on Lebanon, yet carries one on the Israeli army. An editorial casts Hamas and Hezbollah as extremist organizations that Israel should speak to in spite of their extremism. Who is the extremist? Who is occu- pying whom? To top it all, one contributor devotes his article to showing that Israel's invasion of Lebanon is justified under international law.

Never mind that it is a baseless declaration taken from the shelf of Israeli propaganda. It is a spurious case to make for an apartheid state that has consistently flouted international law and UN resolutions. Nor should it be construed as a matter of free speech. It is a question of context and priorities. The newsletter completely ignores AUC's 33-day campaign of solidarity with the Lebanese and Palestinian people. The campaign has been launched by the students with the support of the president, provost, the John D. Gerhart Center, as well as members of the faculty. The campaign is an expression of the outrage felt by the AUC community at the death and destruction that Israel wreaked on Lebanon during the summer. The campaign and thoughts of the students in- volved in it should have been the centerpiece of the issue.

The Middle East Center is run by an Interdisciplinary Advisory Com- mittee (IDAC) comprised of representatives of HUSS departments and of the economics department. The newsletter it issues can take one of two forms. One form is nonpolitical, concentrating on the activities of the center that help promote its standing or, if it must be political, it should be run by an editorial board recruited from the above departments. In either case, it would need first and foremost to portray the sense of the AUC community and the obligations of the university to the people of Egypt.

Galal Amin, economics professor Abdallah Cole, anthropology professor Sherif Elmusa, political science professor Walid Kazziha, political science professor Ferial Ghazoul, English and comparative literature professor Barbara Harlow, English and comparative literature professor Nelly Hanna, Arabic studies professor

Editor’s note: the underlined emphasis is mine. The October issue of MESC, which appears to focus on the war in Lebanon

OCTOBER 2006 Page 5

On November 12th, these two letters to the editor were And this is the AUC Mission statement to which Dr. published in The Caravan in response: Lesch refers, presented in its entirety (emphasis mine): Reply to the Professors

After reading the letter from the seven AUC professors in the Nov. 5 Caravan about the “unacceptable departure” of the MESC newsletter, I felt he mission of the American University in Cairo an overwhelming sense of shock and disgust at their immature, unre- searched, unfounded and unacademic charges. T (AUC) is to provide high quality educational oppor- tunities to students from all segments of Egyptian society The main focus of this group of seven centered on the fact that the Oct. as well as from other countries, and to contribute to 2006 MESC newsletter, which was supposed to cover the 2006 war between Egypt's cultural and intellectual life. The university offers Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon in a way that reflected the prevailing viewpoints of the AUC and Egyptian communities, failed in this regard by programs at the undergraduate, graduate and profes- spewing only Israeli propaganda and be “ignoring” AUC’s “33-day campaign sional levels as well as an extensive continuing education of solidarity with the Lebanese and Palestinian people.” Targeted criticism program. The language of instruction is English. was heaped in particular on the well-researched article of Ivan Rosales, which presented a certain background in his estimation for understanding Israel’s actions in Lebanon this past summer. The university advances the ideals of American liberal The MESC newsletter invites submissions from AUC students and staff arts and professional education and of life-long learning. who espouse a range of academic and personal opinions concerning Middle East issues. This was evident in the Oct. 2006 issue’s majority inclusion of As freedom of academic expression is fundamental to arguably anti-Israeli articles or articles that questioned Israeli motives, in this effort, AUC encourages the free exchange of ideas addition to Rosales’s submission which, unlike the emotionally-charged and promotes open and on-going interaction with schol- opinion of the seven professors, supported itself with credible documenta- arly institutions throughout Egypt and other parts of the tion and careful research. world. The most blatant and utterly inexcusable fault of the seven professors is their assertion that their particular anti-Israeli viewpoints speak for the en- The pursuit of excellence is central to AUC's mission, and tirety of the AUC and Egyptian communities. To suggest that a majority opin- ion, which in Egypt is understandably anti-Israel in all cases involving Israel, the university maintains high standards of academic should be the ONLY ideological expression allowed to be published in a coop- achievement, professional behavior and ethical conduct. erative academic newsletter effectively limits free scholarly research and Toward this end it also provides a broad range of disci- articulation, and rigidly imposes a set opinion in a university where, at least plines and learning opportunities and strives to contribute in theory, a commitment to liberal education exists. Those who signed their name to last week’s opinion editorial should take a closer look at their to the sum of human knowledge. sweeping assertions, overly dramatic speech, and unfounded accusations and ponder whether such absurdities are damaging to their positions as well educated academics. The university environment is designed to advance profi- cient use of the tools of learning as well as students' Marisa Jones thinking capabilities, language and personal skills. Middle East Studies Graduate Student Through its adult and continuing education programs, the

university offers educational opportunities to enhance the professional and job skills of non-degree students. Clarification of MESC

With reference to the letter published in the Nov. 5 issue of the Caravan AUC considers it essential to foster students' appreciation concerning the Oct. issue of the MESC newsletter, the contents of the news- of their own culture and heritage and of their responsibili- letter do not represent a departure from the editorial management and con- ties to society. The university's aim of promoting interna- tent of previous newsletters. Under the current and previous director, the tional understanding is supported by means of scholar- newsletter is prepared and edited by graduate students in the MESC pro- gram. The current editor was also the editor during the previous academic ship, learned discourse, a multicultural campus environ- year. ment, and a diversified publishing program.

Since the Feb. 2005 issue, the newsletter has include that is an a point/ counterpoint (debate) style, written by MESC students. These debates have To advance its mission, the university seeks to maintain a included: Should there be a one-state solution for Palestine? Should Iran be highly qualified faculty. Emphasis is placed on excellence allowed to have nuclear weapons? Were the Danish cartoons appropriate in teaching as well as on research, creative work and fac- under freedom of speech criteria? And, in May 2006 (the last issue prior to ulty members' intellectual contributions to their disci- this one): Should Hamas renounce violence? These articles—and those in the Oct. issue—are intended to provoke debate and stimulate constructive plines. Outstanding administrative, professional and sup- discussion. I trust that we all agree that freedom of speech and openness to port staff, leading edge instructional technology and use different opinions are fundamental to the university’s mission and values. of other resources are also central to the pursuit of the university's aims. Ann M. Lesch Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 6

DESKILLING EGYPTIAN POLICE, PRIVATIZING TORTURE

HOSSAM EL-HAMALAWY

why the police had not con- The only thing that matters is "When everything is being hough current ducted a DNA test to even a confession." privatized in Egypt, why not news is full of confirm the identity of the torture too?" said Ahmad Seif T Gomaa of Alexandria is "no al-Islam, director of the fresh examples of police mis- body they believed to be Gi- unique case, but it happened treatment of suspects, like had's before they went on Hisham Mubarak Law Center, it acquired lots of publicity," the cases of mass torture in their torture binge. who was Tammam's family Emad said. "We get loads like the villages of Bani Mazar lawyer. "The end result is a The Gomaa case highlights these each month." and Sarandu, I would like to police force that is incompe- something Egyptian rights go back to 1996, and share Rights activists like Emad tent, with shallow investiga- activists have been warning with readers the story of an have been ringing alarm bells tive skills. Instead their strat- about for some time : the Alexandrian named Mo- on what they described as egy for policing becomes one Egyptian police's investigative hamed Badr Eddin Gomaa. the "privatization of torture" similar to state-sponsored skills are eroding rapidly due Gomaa went to Montazza in Egypt. The widespread terror in poor neighborhoods to wide dependence on tor- police station in February dependence on torture, car- and slums." ture. 1996 to report his missing ried out by police officers child, Gihad. Some months "Why waste your time in largely immune from prose- later, police stormed his investigations, when you can cution, has meant a system- house after finding a body just extract a confession by a atic pattern of abuse in law they said was his daughter. couple of slaps and electric enforcement agencies; and Gomaa was accused of killing shocks?" asked rights lawyer this abuse may even be his own daughter and held and member of the Egyptian spreading beyond the areas for a month, during which his Association Against Torture, the Egyptian regime wants. lawyers said he was sub- Emad Mubarak, sardonically. Torture has become so en- jected to torture and intimi- "Police officers are not demic that police officers do dation, his wife was threat- trained anymore in investiga- it as a "favor" sometimes. ...the Egyptian ened with rape and his ex- tions. It starts at the acad- In December 2002, I cov- wife and daughter were also emy, where they are told they police's ered the trial of Police Lt. illegally detained. Eventually, are superior to anyone else in Colonel Arafa Hamza, who investigative Gomaa confessed to murder- society, and whatever they do was found guilty of beating skills are ing his dayghter. But the po- they'll get away with it." 19-year-old Ahmad Tammam lice officers faced a slight eroding rapidly Most of the victims of tor- to death in July 1999, but problem later—Gihad reap- ture Emad has come across was handed only a one-year due to wide peared after the false confes- have been "criminal" sus- prison sentence. Tammam sion. Gomaa was cleared of dependence on pects, or ordinary citizens was neither a terror nor a murder charges by court in caught in the net. criminal suspect. He was torture... 1998. arrested after a disagree- "Let's say there's a murder I am no detective and have ment with his neighbors who in some village," Emad said. not received the sophisti- vowed revenge using their "Police would simply go in, cated training the Egyptian police connections. Three arrest all adults, men or police officers get in their days later, his family received women, and sometimes chil- Abbassiya Police Academy, or Ahmad's corpse from al- dren. They torture the sus- Mubarak's Academy for Secu- Umraniya police station. pects, till someone con- rity in New Cairo. But when I Medical reports proved he fesses. It doesn't matter then covered this case I wondered died due to torture. if there is evidence or not. WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 7

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A SEARCH FOR A PUBLIC ATTITUDE MONA HEIKAL

against those acting in right- who dare to open their henever I eousness. mouths were buried in a hol- read the low of forgetfulness and dark- W Hence, we can we imagine phrase of "human rights in ness. how deeply hurt inside are Egypt,” I automatically recall those who just tried to ex- Accordingly, Egyptian soci- some scenes in my mind: press their opinions. Journal- ety is suffering from a wide soldiers were beating student ists are beaten, dehuman- rift. Hopefully, this rift is not demonstrators at Cairo Uni- ized, put into custody, and too deep to be healed. There versity; soldiers were launch- detained! What for? Nothing was a time when the repre- ing "raids" against street sell- but saying some words. They sentatives of the prosecutor ers, confiscating goods; a should be guaranteed the practiced their rights of in- mother was beating her child right as Egyptian citizens to specting jails and prisons, because he left her hand and express their views to the but regretfully this was before played; a school teacher was public and let the people be the 1952 revolution. Who is shouting at her students the judge. The same abuse is going to inspect universities, using "nasty" words. Added applied to judges, university public offices, businesses: ...a mechanism to that, university professors professors, trade-unionists, public or private, schools, to watch human were threatening their stu- and—amazingly—members of houses, or worship places? dents or were favoring some rights in Egypt parliament. Who is going to inspect con- students over others. sciences? should be Undoubtedly, the breach- Frankly speaking, I am ing of the human rights in Please do not misunder- established. ashamed to see such inhu- Egypt has reached a severe stand me. I know, it should man acts from the followers And what is level to the extent that it will not be left for God because of the religion that highly not be easily recovered. The God is already inspecting all most needed— respects and encourages security machine is only one of us. My point is, people and perhaps the humanity, humanization and branch of the problem. We should be raised from their privacy; even in sins (if some- fastest way —is are currently witnessing un- childhood on how to preserve one commits a sin and no healthy intra-relationships and defend their rights to humanizing one knew about it, one between the classes of the live an honorable life. Never- should secretly regret it in ourselves... society. People now are prac- theless, a mechanism to front of God only). There is a ticing tyranny and oppression watch human rights in Egypt story from early Islam about a over each other to the level should be established. And drunk one who was seen in that a small employee in a what is most needed—and street unconscious. The Qadi small office is practicing the perhaps the fastest way —is punished him according to "Pharonic" style as far as she humanizing ourselves and Shari'a, but told his baliffs or he can. being more keen to each not to pour out the bottles, other. It might sound pla- after all the drunk had paid Still, perhaps the origin of tonic, but why not? Life is in money in buying them and he the problem returns back to need of some romantic was already punished, let the time when only hopes now and then. him pour them out himself. "soldiers" (and whomsoever This is how the sinful should is attached to them) had all be treated, so their hearts the rights, while the bulk of will not be filled with anger the society was deprived of their basic rights. Yet, any WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 8

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A 2006 TIMELINE GARTH HALL

January 2 Hundreds of the Sudanese refugees who were arrested This is a running timeline of Egyptian human rights abuses and on December 30 and detained in Cairo-area detention events which documents breeches of freedom of speech, as- camps were released. Hundreds more (approximately sembly, religion, etc, up to November 19th of this year. I’m 654) remained in detention and were scheduled to be deported to Sudan on January 6. going to post this list on wikipedia, and students who want to January 5 The deportation of 654 Sudanese refugees slated for make corrections or additions should look for it there. January 6 was postponed for one week so UNHCR could determine which Sudanese are legal refugees. February 3 The Al-Salaam ferry sank due to negligent maintenance, January 5 Amnesty International called for an investigation into killing at least 1,014. how 27 Sudanese refugees came to die during the De- cember 30 police raid. February 3 Egyptian authorities detained U.K. lawmaker George Galloway overnight in an airport prison cell, allegedly for January 11 164 of the 654 Sudanese refugees slated for deporta- reasons of national security. tion were not deported, but were instead released. February 12 Egypt’s upper house of parliament approved a two-year January 17 The US declared that it intends to postpone free trade postponement of municipal elections, putting them off talks with Egypt due to the December 24, 2005 court from April 2006 to April 2008. The MB MPs protested sentencing of to five years of prison for this move, which extended the terms of 4,500 office- alleged election law violations. holders. Egyptian officials declared that they no longer plan on February 12 Authorities banned the latest Arabic edition of the Ger- deporting any of the Sudanese refugees still in deten- man magazine Der Speigel, which contained Jyllands- tion. Posten cartoons of Mohammad. January 18 233 more of the Sudanese refugees slated for deporta- February 13 Hundreds of family members of the victims of the Al- tion were not deported, but were instead released. At Salaam ferry disaster stormed the shipping company this point, 183 of the original 654 Sudanese refugees offices in Safaga. Riot police resorted to throwing tear slated for deportation remain detained. gas in an attempt to restore order. A mob of Muslim attacked a mob of Coptic February 13 Thousands of students demonstrated at Al-Azhar against Christian Egyptians in the village of El Udaysaat, near the Jyllands-Posten cartoons. Luxor. One Egyptian was killed and 12 were injured in the attack. The day before the attack, it had been dis- February 16 Hesham Bastawissi, Ahmed Mekky, and two other covered that the Coptic Egyptians were secretly using a judges were taken in for police questioning. guest house as a church. February 18 Three MB members were ordered to stand trial on January 20 Egyptian State Security violently dispersed a group of charges of possessing weapons and provoking violence. Ghad supporters holding up "Free Ayman Nour" signs at February 18 Ayman Nour's lawyers filed an appeal and requested the entrance of the Africa Cup stadium. suspension of his sentence until this appeal had been January 26 The Philippine government reported that Filipina Veron- ruled on. ica Bangit had returned to the Philippines two months February 21 400 students, mostly from the Kifaya or after escaping from her Cairo employers and that she al-Ghad groups, shouted anti-Mubarak slogans and gave accounts of being abused during her employment accused his regime of corruption and rigging last year's there as a domestic servant. elections. The protest coincided with Secretary Rice's January 28 MB MPs walked out of Egypt’s parliament to protest the visit to Cairo. expulsion of a fellow MP who had criticized the govern- February 28 Authorities released three British Islamic fundamental- ment for letting a French warship through the Suez Ca- ists after they spent nearly three years in prison for nal. membership of a banned religious party. January 28 A family court refused Hind El Hinnawy’s request that the March 3 Police arrested seven MB student activists for holding a actor, Ahmed El Fishawy, be recognized as the father of meeting, at which they were planning an anti-cartoon El Hinnawy daughter. The court ruled that while the DNA protest. test showed El Fishawy was the father, El Hinnawy could not produce proof that they he had agreed to a marriage, March 3 Police arrested Rashad al-Bayoumi, a Cairo University secret or otherwise. professor and a member of the MB's 13-member Guid- ance Bureau. January 29 Egyptian officials declared that 143 of 183 Sudanese refugees remaining in detention were to be released. March 3 Egypt-based political website www.masreyat.org was shut down by state-owned internet company TE Data. January 30 MB MPs called for a boycott against Denmark due to the Jyllands-Posten cartoons of Mohammad that appeared March 5 Police arrested 12 MB members who were holding a in that country. meeting in Cairo's Zahraa el-Maadi district. March 6 Police arrested 5 MB members in Giza and Ismaliya on OCTOBER 2006 Page 9

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A 2006 TIMELINE

charges of plotting to "revive the group's activities." that they telling the press that they witnessed electoral fraud in the November-December parliamentary elec- March 7 Authorities filed new charges against Ayman Nour, in- tions. cluding beating a police officer with a stick on Election Day and calling Mubarak “ineffective” and “a loser” April 17 Police detained another Muslim Egyptian who entered a during a political rally last fall. Cairo church with a knife, three days after the fatal Ab- del-Rizziq knife attacks in Alexandria. March 8 Police shut down the MB newspaper Afaq Arabiya (Arab Horizons) and arrested four MB members. April 24 Three nearly simultaneous bombings in the Sinai resort town of Dahab kill 23. March 16 A sit-in vigil was held in Cairo's to demon- strate support of the Egyptian judges calling for electoral At a sit-in in front of Judges’ Club, police arrested 15 reforms. activists who were demonstrating in solidarity with Judges Mekky and Bastawissi. March 17 Nearly 1,000 Egyptian judges held a half-hour silent protest to demonstrate for full judicial independence and April 24 At a sit-in in front of Judges Club, police beat Judge Mah- against the government's order to interrogate of six of moud Mohammed Abdel Latif Hamza, hostpitalizing him their colleagues who criticized recent elections. with minor injuries. March 17 The head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church strongly April 24 Police arrested blogger Ahmed Droubi. rejected a court order obliging the church to let followers April 26 Police arrested Al-Jazeera's Cairo bureau chief, Egyptian remarry after obtaining a civil divorce Hussein Abdel Ghani. Police then detained Ghani in March 22 Prime Minister Nazif announced that the emergency Dahab on charges of propagating false news for his laws would soon be replaced by new anti-terrorism laws. coverage of the aftermath of the April 24 bomb attacks. March 24 An Alexandria police officer allegedly killed Egyptian April 26 Policed violently broke up a pro-Judges demonstration teenager Youssef Khamis Ibrahim by shooting him in the taking place outside the Judges’ Syndicate. head. April 26 Two suicide bombers attacked security personnel and April 3 Several hundred Egyptians tried to break into Alexan- foreign peacekeepers in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, but did dria's El-Montazah police station to take revenge for the not cause any injuries to their targets. alleged slaying of teenager Youssef Khamis Ibrahim. April 27 Police detained dozens of demonstrators who were par- April 3 Authorities forced several Egyptian judges to cancel ticipating in pro-Judges demonstrations. meetings they had scheduled with a delegation from the April 27 Police arrested blogger Malek Mostafa at a pro-Judges NGO Human Rights Watch. rally. April 9 Egyptian authorities barred jailed opposition leader Ay- April 27 An Egyptian court released Al-Jazeera's Cairo bureau man Nour from sending any more articles to his party’s chief Hussein Abdel Ghani on bail and charged him with newspaper. propagating lies for his reporting on the April 24 Dahab April 11 Egyptian authorities released 300 former members of bombings. the Gama’a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) terrorist group. April 27 Over the past four days, police arrested over 51 pro- 650 others from this group had been released in the Judges demonstrators. previous six weeks. April 28 Police arrested Amir Salem and Ehab el Kholy, the two April 14 Muslim Egyptian Mahmoud Salah-Eddin Abdel-Rizziq main lawyers for Ayman Nour, on charges of inciting the stabbed to death Coptic Christian Egyptian Nushi Atta masses and insulting the president. Girgis and wounded fifteen others when he made con- secutive attacks on three churches in Alexandria. April 30 Prime Minister Nazif called for a two-year extension of the Emergency Laws in light of the April 24 Dahab bomb- April 15 A mob of Muslim Egyptians attacked a funeral proces- ings. The Egyptian parliament approved the extension sion for Nushi Atta Girgis in the Sidi Bishr district of Alex- that same day, by a 287-91 vote. andria. Egyptian police intervened, using tear gas to disperse the violence. 15 Egyptians were injured and 15 May 2 Police broke up a Labor Day demo in downtown Cairo’s were arrested. Tahrir Square. April 15 Police arrested five MB publishers for printing material May 4 Police arrested 23 MB in response to the group's cam- that opposed the upcoming renewal of the emergency paign against the Emergency Laws. law. May 6 40 activists being held at Tora Penitentiary launched a April 16 Police arrested 43 students on suspicion that they were hunger strike in protest of being detained with criminal members of the MB. convicts. April 16 Mobs of Muslim Egyptians and Christian Egyptians con- May 7 A South Cairo Court in Bab al Khelk summoned Mahmud tinued to attack each other in Alexandria. Over course of Mekky and Hisham Al Bastawissi to their court sessions. the weekend, 2 were killed, 40 wounded, and over 100 May 7 Police arrested blogger Alaa Seif al-Islam and ten other arrested. Egyptians demonstrating outside the South Cairo Court. April 17 Authorities summoned Mahmud Mekky and Hisham Al Bastawissi to a disciplinary hearing for telling the press May 10 Egyptian cleric Osama Mustafa Hassan Nasr, who alleg- edly was abducted from an Italian street by CIA officers WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 10

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A 2006 TIMELINE

and turned over to Egypt in 2003, made allegations that film be banned in Egypt. he was beaten repeatedly in the early stages of his im- prisonment, including while he was in U.S. custody. June 3 An Egyptian court released Nael Abdel Hamid and Ihab Mahmoud (arrested April 24). May 11 A High Court summoned Judges Mekky and Bastawisi to appear, but the two Judges refused to enter the court June 3 An Egyptian court ordered Ahmad Maher, Yasser Ismail, amid such a large presence of police. and Adel Fawzi to be detained for another 15 days. May 11 Outside the Judges Club, the police attacked and beat June 4 Police arrested nine senior MB members. anyone who tried to demonstrate, clubbing men and women as well as at least half a dozen journalists trying June 4 An Egyptian court released activists Asmaa Ali, Ahmad to cover the events. Authorities arrested 255 demon- Abdel Gawad and Ahmad Abdel Ghaffar. strators and journalists. June 4 An Egyptian court ordered Alaa Seif al-Islam, Nada al- May 17 The Minister of Interior issued an order banning any Qassas, and Rasha Azab to be detained for another 15 peaceful assemblies or demonstrations in front of the days. High Court Building. June 5 Police beat and sexually assaulted Seham Mamdouh May 18 A Supreme Judicial Council disciplinary tribunal exoner- Mahmoud at the Ain Shams police station. Allegedly, ated Judge Mekky on charges that he had “disparaged police detained her in a solitary cell for an hour, then the Supreme Judicial Council” and “talked to the press repeatedly kicked her in the abdomen when she fought about political affairs.” But on the same grounds, the off an officer's attempt to grope her breasts and rape court issued a rebuke and denied a promotion to Judge her. The police then released her the same night. Bastawisi. June 5 The Foreign Ministry demanded that the International May 18 Police arrested over 300 pro-reform protesters and beat Republican Institute, a U.S. NGO which promotes democ- several others. racy, suspend its activities in the country. May 18 A Cairo appeals court upheld the December 2005 con- June 6 An Egyptian court ordered Kamal Khalil, Ibrahim el- Sahari, Wael Khalil and 21 other activists to be detained viction and 5-year prison sentence of Ayman Nour. for another 15 days. The three have been detained May 25 300 pro-reform judges staged a sit-in outside the High since April 26-27. Court Building to demand the independence of Egypt's June 6 An Egyptian court ordered 164 MB activists to be de- judiciary. tained for another 15 days. Most of the group of 164 May 25 Police arrested Karim el-Shaaer and Mohamed el- were originally detained between May 11 and May 18. Sharqawi at a pro-judges demonstration outside the Journalists' Syndicate. Police then tortured and sodom- June 7 An Egyptian court ordered Mohamed el-Sharqawi, Ka- reem el-Sha3er, and 50 MB members to be detained for ized Sharqawi at a Cairo police station. another 15 days. Sharqawi had been detained since May 28 Prison medical authorities administered a medical exam May 25, the 50 MB members since May 11. on Mohamed el-Sharqawi but did not treat him for his June 7 The Egyptian Parliament postponed discussion of the injuries. judicial reforms bill. May 28 The Azbakeya Misdemeanor Court sentenced Azbakeya police officers Amr Saudi and Yasser Al Tawel to three June 8 An Egyptian court released Ashraf Ibarhim from Tora months in prison and a hundred pound fine for beating Prison and Rasha Azab from Qanater Prison. Hossam Al Saeed Mohamed Amer on October 8 2003. June 12 Police shot rubber bullets and tear gas at a MB protest May 29 A dozen Tora Penitentiary detainees launched a hunger that was being held in support of prominent MB member strike to demonstrate against the torture of Mohamed el- Hassan al-Hayawan, who was on trial in the town of Zagazig. Police injured ten Egyptians and briefly de- Sharqawi. tained 110 others. May 30 Protestors demonstrated in front of the Doctors’ Syndi- June 12 A Zagazig State Security Emergency Court acquitted MB cate against the torture of Mohamed el-Sharqawi. member Hassan al-Hayawan of charges of illegal posses- June 1 Protesters demonstrated in front of the Kasr el Nil police sion of weapons and belonging to an illegal organization. station to demonstrate against the torture of Mohamed June 12 Police detained MB member Hassan al-Hayawan imme- el-Sharqawi. diately he was acquitted. June 1 Police detained, beat, and released activists Adel June 12 Mohamed el-Sharqawi wrote a letter documenting Tora Mashad, Emad Mubarak and Ayman Ayad. Prison's neglect for his broken bones. June 1 Police beat LA Times correspondent Hossam el- June 13 Culture Minister Farouk Hosni moved to ban the film Hamalawy. "The DaVinci Code." June 2 Police assaulted BBC correspondents Dina Samak and Dina Gameel while the two are reporting on a meeting of June 16 Egyptian Organization for Human Rights released a statement opposing Culture Minister Farouk Hosni's calls the General Assembly of the Journalists' Syndicate. to ban the film "The DaVinci Code." June 3 Police seized 2,000 pirated DVDs of "The DaVinci Code" and the Egyptian Coptic Christian church demanded the June 17 An Egyptian court released activists Ahmad Maher, Adel OCTOBER 2006 Page 11

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A 2006 TIMELINE

Fawzi Tawfeeq el-Gazzar, and Yasser Ismail Zakki. July 9 Authorities referred 18 MB leaders for trial, among them leading politburo member Essam al-Eryan, along with June 18 A self-professedly devout Egyptian woman in a museum hundreds of other MB members arrested during recent destroyed three sculptures by Egyptian artist Hassan protests in support of judicial reform. Heshmat. The attack followed a fatwa issued by the Grand Mufti of Cairo, Ali Gomaa, which banned all deco- July 9 Three hundred opposition journalists and supporters rative statues of living beings. gathered in front of the Cairo Parliament Building to protest the proposed new press law. June 19 Police arrested 31 MB members in the North Coast town of Marsa Matrouh on charges of holding illegal meetings. July 10 Parliament passed the new press law, which includes huge fines for journalists who insult the president. Un- June 21 The Yacoubian Building opened amid criticism, acclaim, der the legislation, journalists found to be critical of and calls for censorship. government officials are liable to receive up to five years in prison or a fine of up to US $5220, while editors can June 22 An Egyptian court released Alaa Seif al-Islam from Tora be fined up to US $3480. Prison. Alaa had been imprisoned since May 7. July 10 An Administrative Court ruled in favor of blocking blogs June 22 An Egyptian court released activists Kamal Khalil, that “threaten national security.” Gamal Abdel Fattah, Wael Khalil, Ibrahim el-Sahary and 16 others from Tora prison. July 11 Bishop Maximus held a widely-covered news conference. June 22 An Egyptian court ordered Karim el-Shaaer and Mo- July 13 Dr. Osama al-Ghazali Harb launched the liberal Democ- hamed el-Sharqawi to be detained for another 15 days. ratic Front Party. July 14 One thousand Egyptians demonstrated at al-Azhar Mosque against Israel and in support of Lebanon and June 23 An Egyptian court sentenced Al-Dustour chief editor Palestine. Ibrahim Issa and reporter Sahar Zaki to a year's impris- onment for insulting the president. In April, the Al- July 15 One hundred and fifty Egyptians at the Press Syndicate Dustour newspaper reported on a lawsuit that accused demonstrated against the detention of Karim el-Shaaer, Egyptian President Mubarak of misusing public money Mohamed el-Sharqawi, and numerous MB members. during the privatization of state-owned companies. The man who filed the lawsuit, Said Abdullah, was also given July 17 One hundred and fifty Egyptians at the Dar el Hekma a year's jail. The three were also fined 10,000 Egyptian Doctor's Syndicate demonstrated against Israel and in pounds. support of Lebanon and Palestine. June 23 Three hundred demonstrators at the Press Syndicate July 20 An Egyptian court released Karim el-Shaaer and Mo- called for the release of protestors that were being de- hamed el-Sharqawi from Tora Prison. Police had ar- tained with criminals at Tora Prison. rested them May 25. June 23 London-based Arab Press Freedom Watch condemned July 21 Five thousand Egyptians at al-Azhar Mosque demon- the Education Ministry's decision to fail secondary-school strated against Israel and in support of Lebanon and student Alia Farag Megahed for criticizing Mubarak and Palestine. Police forced them to stay inside the mosque. US President Bush in a final-exam paper. July 21 Three thousand Egyptians at various Alexandria June 30 Thousands of worshippers at the Al-Azhar Mosque pro- mosques demonstrated against Israel and in support of tested against Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip. Lebanon and Palestine. July 4 A group of Coptic Christians began legal proceedings to July 26 One thousand Egyptians in Cairo's Tahrir Square demon- sue Bishop Maximus I for setting up an alternative ortho- strated against Israel and in support of Lebanon and dox church in Egypt Palestine. July 5 112 MPs called for the censorship of the film "The July 28 One thousand Egyptians at Giza’s al-Istiqama mosque Yacoubian Building." demonstrated against Israel and in support of Lebanon and Palestine. July 5 Police prevented pro-Gaza demonstrators from gathering downtown. July 28 One thousand Egyptians at al-Azhar Mosque demon- strated against Israel and in support of Lebanon and July 5 An Egyptian court released 98 MB members. Palestine. July 5 An Egyptian court ordered Karim el-Shaaer and Mo- July 28 Five hundred Egyptians in the Delta city of Mansoura hamed el-Sharqawi to be detained for another 15 days. demonstrated against Israel and in support of Lebanon and Palestine. July 8 Twenty-six Egyptian newspapers did not print in a show of protest against the proposed new press law. July 29 Police arrested Mohamed Hegazi, Fathi Farid, & two other Kefaya activists in Port Said. The three were par- July 8 Three thousand demonstrated in Cairo's Tahrir Square ticipating in a 50th anniversary march for the nationali- against the proposed new press law. zation of the Suez Canal. Police released them the next July 8 Police again prevented pro-Gaza demonstrators from day. gathering downtown. July 30 One hundred MPs marched towards the US embassy, Police arrested 27 MB members. demanding the expulsion of the Israeli and US ambassa- WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 12

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EGYPT: A 2006 TIMELINE

dors. October 3 Professor Hassan Hanafi received several death threats after he compared the Koran with a supermarket and August 6 Ayman Nour was hospitalized for heart surgery. said that in both "you can find whatever you are looking for." Hanafi's remarks were made at a seminar organ- August 11 Thousands of Egyptians at Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque dem- ized by the Alexandria Library. onstrated against Israel and in support of Lebanon and Palestine. Security forces and plainclothes thugs clashed October 13 Police arrested eight MB in the Nile Delta governorate of with the demonstrators, banning them from marching in Menoufiya on charges of belonging to an illegal organiza- the streets. tion and possessing anti-government pamphlets. August 11 Police arrested Kefaya activist Ahmad Fayedd while October 23 An Egyptian court ordered MB members Essam Al-Eriyan breaking up an anti-Israel demonstration in the Fayyoum and to be detained for another 15 days. oasis town of Snoris. October 24 Mobs of young men roamed downtown Cairo, groping August 13 Al Ahram reversed a previous move and unblocked em- and trying to rape several women. These mobs contin- ployees’ access to several blogs and independent politi- ued to roam downtown over the rest of the Eid holiday cal websites. The Labour Party website and several oth- weekend. ers remained blocked. October 25 An Egyptian court released Hassan Abdallah, the coordi- August 14 An Egyptian court released MB politburo members Es- nator of Sinai’s Youth for Change organization. Hassan sam al-Eryan and Mohammed Morsi, both of whom had had been detained by State Security in Arish on Septem- been detained since April. ber 7 and had been granted no access to lawyers or family visits during his detention. August 16 State prosecution has the order to release MB members Essam al-Eryan and Mohammed Morsi overturned. An October 28 Police detained Mohamed Hassan, a Workers for Egyptian court then ordered Essam and Morsi to be Change activist, for three hours. detained for another 15 days. October 29 Police beat student demonstrators at Ain Shams Univer- August 18 Police arrested 17 MB members in the Nile Delta town sity campus in Abbassiya. Student union elections were Menoufia on charges of holding a meeting aimed at increasing tensions between state-supported candi- reviving the banned group's activities. dates, MB candidates, and others. These clashes at Ain Shams University between students, other students, August 25 Police arrested 17 MB members, including MB secretary- police, and hired thugs, would continue for three days. general Mahmoud Ezzat and senior member Lasheen Abu Shanab. October 31 A court in Cairo sentenced parliamentarian Talaat Al- Sadat to one year in prison for implicating the army in his August 26 Police arrested four MB in the Upper Egyptian gover- uncle's assassination. Sadat was tried in front of a mili- norate of Beni Suef. tary court, which does not allow appeal. September 7 70 detainees at a Damanhour prison held a hunger October 31 Students at Helwan University protested after state au- strike in protest of their 2004 imprisonment. thorities banned MB candidates from running. September 9 Orbit TV show “Al Qahira Al Youm” hosted a discussion November 1 Thousands of MB and leftist students demonstrated at between Karama editor Abdel Halim Qandil and Rose Al Cairo University campus in Giza, protesting the new ban Youssef editor Karam Gabr. Karama is a Nasserist news- against MB candidates in the student union elections. paper and Rose Al Youssef is a pro-Gamal newspaper. The two began a shouting match and Qandil called the November 6 Eight hundred detainees at Abu Zaabal prison staged a latter a state security informant while Gabr accused him hunger strike in protest of mistreatment and lack of of taking money from the Libyans. visitation rights. September 10 The Entertainment Censorship Committee denied MB November 6 Police arrested blogger Abdel Karim Nabil Suleiman. member Mukhtar Nouh a CD distribution license. MB member and former MP Nouh was planning on releasing November 8 An Egyptian court ordered Abdel Karim to be detained his first CD with political songs. for another 15 days. September 12 A speech by Pope Benedict XVI at University of Regens- November 9 One hundred protesters outside downtown Cairo's Jour- burg in Germany set off protests in Cairo and across the nalists' Syndicate demonstrated against the failure of Middle East. authorities to stop the October 23 and 24 sexual harass- ment gangs in Tahrir Square. September 17 Egypt's public prosecutor charged 14 employees of the state's railway authority with negligence. One month November 13 Police arrested and released Mohamed el-Ashkar, a Giza previous, on August 21, a rail accident in Qalyub led to Kifaya activist. the deaths of 56 Egyptians. November 17 The MB called for Culture Minister Faruq Hosni to be September 24 Authorities banned editions of French newspaper Le sacked for his statement that the wearing of Islamic veils Figaro and German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine was a "regressive" trend. Zeitung because of articles deemed insulting to Islam. November 19 Police arrested blogger Rami Siyam in downtown Cairo. September 25 An Egyptian court released prominent MB member Mo- Siyam has been running his blog since May 2005 and hamed Al-Hayawan, who has been detained since De- usually he posts material critical to the government such cember 2005. as police torture and operation of political opponents. OCTOBER 2006 Page 13

LECTURE OF AMR HAMZAWY LENKA BENOVA

years, the strength of authori- the ruling establishment. n October 11 tarian regimes remains high. Such "cracks" could be the O the Gerhart After much reform rhetoric, separation between moder- Center for Philanthropy and only minor concessions in the ates and hard-lines, and a Civic Engagement at AUC process of opening up the public awareness of such organized a lecture by Dr. governance process have competing camps empowers Amr Hamzawy entitled "Social been acceded to. At the citizens to participate in civil Amr Hamzawy Activism in Transforming same time, the Lebanon war society. Fourthly, new pat- (Picture courtesy of Carnegie Endow- Polities, Egypt 2004-2006.” of summer 2006 diminished terns and actors within social ment for International Peace website) Dr. Hamzawy is an Egyptian the power of the democrati- activism appear and broach political scientist who previ- zation discourse and focused into areas of the discourse ously taught at Cairo Univer- attention back to the resis- heretofore unexplored, tran- sity and the Free University of tance narrative, a narrative scend the previous solely . Currently at the Carne- which is inherently undemo- ideological debates, but at gie Endowment for Interna- cratic and carries a dehu- the same time require a de- tional Peace, his research manizing image of the mocratic framework for func- interests include the chang- "other". tioning. Lastly, Dr. Hamzawy ing dynamics of political par- remarked that transitional Dr. Hamzawy then out- ticipation in the Arab world, environments lead to a lined the characteristics of the role of Islamist opposition higher degree of citizen en- the social activism environ- groups in Arab politics, with gagement through the new ment in transitional situa- special attention both to forms and contents of activ- tions. Firstly, he observed Egypt and the Gulf countries. ism. ...in case the that activism takes on new He received his Ph.D. from Muslim and creative forms of en- The above general outline the Free University of Berlin, gagement, including new of the character of transi- Brotherhood M.A. from the Institute of actors (i.e. private mass me- tional environments lead Dr. Social Studies in the Hague; achieved power dia in Latin America or clergy Hamzawy to providing con- an M.A. from the University of involvement in political move- crete examples of Egypt be- due to the level Amsterdam; and a B.Sc. from ments in socialist Eastern tween 2004-2006. In the Cairo University. of poplar Europe) and new strategies case of transcending "red Summary of mobilization that go be- lines", he noted that the is- support, he was yond politics. Secondly, he sue of presidency doubtful of the Dr. Hamzawy set out to mentioned that traditionally (constitutional right and pos- examine the level and forms sincerity of their taboo zones are transcended sible succession in the fam- of social activism between in public discourse, issues he ily), as well as the role of the reform agenda... years 2004-6 in Egypt and calls "red zones". One exam- security apparatus are an compare their characteristics ple of such red zone could be example of topics never be- to other situations of political the topic of military engage- fore discussed publicly. Ac- transformation in the world ment in political life in Africa tors on the socio-political (i.e. Latin America, Asia and and corruption in governmen- scene were able to reach Eastern Europe). He con- tal affairs in Latin America. wider segments of popula- ceded that despite the in- Thirdly, a transitional environ- tion, in the case of Muslim creasing dynamism and entry ment can be perceived by Brotherhood, through re- of new actors into the politi- divisions that appear within designed rhetoric to fit the cal scene during the last two WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 14

democratization debate result of which the regime doubtful of the sincerity of and in the case of Kifeya, by lost control of public space their reform agenda and ex- the use of innovative tech- for the expression of discon- pressed a fear that despite niques (internet, text- tent. In all, he expressed his their willingness to avoid messaging), deployed to frustration that despite the confrontation, the Muslim reach wider participation in vibrancy and dynamism of Brotherhood may radicalize crucial events. Dr. Hamzawy social activism in Egypt, it is once in power. In response to observed a developing divi- proving a very inefficient an audience question, Dr. sion within NDP ruling estab- mechanism for achieving Hamzawy elaborated on his lishment, whereby a reform concrete results (for in- distrust of the Muslim Broth- camp and a hard-line fraction stance, the failure of protests erhood by characterizing their developed. He also noted of judges to increase their internal organizational struc- that such divisions may lead level of independence from ture as totalitarian, non- to a successful alliance be- the executive power). The transparent as well as noting tween a reform branch of the reasons for this are two-fold; that the level of populism regime with opposition the power structures' (i.e. visible during the Lebanon forces, as was the case in security apparatus and patri- war in order to cater to their Rumania and Argentina. Pub- monial networks) grip on constituency was politically lic debates in Egypt explored control is still very strong and irresponsible and disconcert- and criticized areas of presi- the number of people that ing. dential succession and con- are participating in social The speaker concluded his stitutional reform, and activism has not yet achieved lecture by conceding that the achieved greater citizen en- a significant level to create Egyptian ruling regime has gagement. However, this substantial pressure on the put the democracy agenda engagement increased in regime. on the back-burner due to frequency of demonstrations Therefore, the process of immediate concerns with and not necessarily in the winning democratic conces- succession. number of people involved as sions from the regime in well as often the display of power continue to be gradual public protest was tied to and progressive, due to the regional (e.g., HAMAS elec- three most likely scenarios tion victory in early 2006) Dr. Hamzawy that would follow the presi- and not domestic affairs; dency of . The elaborated on nonetheless, these events alliance between Gamal were tied to the discourse of his distrust of Mubarak and the private democratization. the Muslim sector, option number one, Two observations were will present a homogenous Brotherhood by made about the nature of albeit undemocratic front. A characterizing political life in Egypt during successor from the tradi- this time. Firstly, the speaker tional sources of power, the their internal pointed out that the secular security apparatus or the organizational and Islamist divisions were army, will also not be inter- willing to transcend ideologi- ested in advancing an structure as cal divides used by the ruling agenda of political liberaliza- totalitarian... regime to "divide and rule". tion. Thirdly, in case the Mus- Secondly, he perceived that lim Brotherhood achieved the democratization narrative power due to the level of had become dominant, as a poplar support, he was OCTOBER 2006 Page 15

MAKING IRAQ’S OIL WORK FOR IRAQIS RORY A. MCNAMARA

other words, Iraq needs to cies such as their forced re- s politicians make its oil work for Iraqis. moval from power. across the At- A Oil has obvious political lantic and inside the Green importance, today accounting Zone struggle to formulate a Resource Squandered for over 90 percent of Iraqi course of action in Iraq, much In the words of Iraqi Oil government receipts. Not of their debate has centered minister Hussein al- surprisingly, much of the around two notions: stabiliz- Shahristani, “[oil is] a re- present-day animosity, insur- ing Iraq through military source that has been a curse gency, and sectarian strife strength, and legitimating the for Iraqis – its revenues have are results of the friction Iraqi government through often been abused and util- caused by Iraq’s various political means. While these ized by tyranny to persecute sects attempting to steer the goals have obvious impor- the Iraqi people.” Indeed, post-Saddam state to their tance, actual strategies for both during the B’ath Party’s own benefit. The oil-rich achieving such success have reign and in the chaos that south and north, largely in- been scant. Looking forward, has ensued in Iraq since the habited by the resurgent Shi'i Iraqi officials and their for- U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and Kurdish communities, eign advisors must focus on average Iraqis have seen few seek a share of power more specific measures which can of the benefits of oil revenue. in line with their wealth of both promote security and resources; the once domi- bolster the Iraqi government. Since the nationalization Oil has obvious nant and oil-poor Sunnis of of Iraq’s oil industry in 1972 An important and logical central Iraq fear being iso- political until the fall of Saddam Hus- step in these directions is lated from political power sein’s regime, the ruling importance, asserting Iraqi government and national oil revenues. B’ath Party and its mostly- control over national oil re- today Sunni constituency controlled More than just a re- sources. Failure to do so thus accounting for oil revenues. These revenues source which Iraq’s feuding far has contributed to a pro- were hardly distributed factions struggle to control, over 90 percent longed occupation, an un- equally; the official B’ath oil is also a major source of ceasing insurgency, and a of Iraqi Party grew to encompass 10 funding for the insurgency. In less than robust Iraqi govern- percent of the Iraqi popula- early 2006, Iraqi finance government ment. In reformulating their tion with countless others’ minister ‘Ali Allawi publicly joint strategies, the Iraqi gov- receipts. loyalty insured through pa- estimated that insurgents ernment and its coalition tronage and by incorporation make off with between 40 partners would be well into a large Sunni-dominated and 50 percent of all national served by making a more public sector funded by oil. oil-smuggling profits. Allawi’s sustained attempt at secur- Corruption was widespread, estimate, when combined ing Iraq’s oil production ca- especially in the 1990s, with with Iraq Revenue Watch’s pacities. Furthermore, efforts those in power lining their estimate that oil-smuggling should be made to ensure pockets with Oil for Food cost Iraq between $2.5 bil- that the long in-the-works revenues. B’athists even lion and $4 billion in 2005 Iraqi oil law guarantees just reportedly established a alone, indicates a staggering and equitable distribution of ‘rainy day’ fund, into which source of funding for insur- oil revenues to all of Iraq’s they funneled five percent of gents. sectarian communities. In oil revenues, for contingen- WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 16

Even as oil production sage of a reasonable and to be completed by year’s Iraqi finance levels have recently flirted practical national oil law, 2) end. The law is expected to with the prewar level of 2.5 improving and expanding resolve contentious issues minister ‘Ali million barrels per day, oil is infrastructure, and 3) an oil- such as revenue sharing and Allawi publicly still a vastly underutilized specific security plan suffi- the role of foreign companies estimated that resource for the Iraqi govern- cient to allow for consistent in producing Iraq’s oil. ment. Corruption continues oil exports. Though debate over the legis- insurgents make to divert revenues from gov- lation will no doubt be First, the long-anticipated off with between ernment coffers and the oil heated, Iraqi and coalition oil law is due for presentation infrastructure has been the politicians must be forthright 40 and 50 before the Iraqi Parliament target of repeated sabotage in their calls for a just and prior to the end of the year. percent of all and attack. Oil pipelines and equitable distribution of reve- The IMF has made the end of other infrastructure have nues and an agreement that national oil- the year deadline a condition languished under U.N. im- encourages foreign invest- smuggling for future programs in Iraq, posed sanctions and the ment in Iraq’s production and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq profits... B’ath Party’s tendency to capacities without ‘giving Zalmay Khalilzad made the eschew foreign investment. away’ Iraqi resources. law one of his six ‘key-tasks’ Current infrastructure re- mains below the standards of other oil producing countries and is inadequate for Iraq to pursue produc- tion propor- tionate to its status as the world's sec- ond-largest holder of proven re- serves.

Fueling the Future

To reverse the current trend in under- utilization of Map courtesy of the oil resources, Christian Science Monitor. Iraq and its coalition allies need to focus on three pri- mary con- cerns: 1) pas- WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 17

Iraqi politicians admit long as the terms are not proportionately expanding gov- that agreeing on a formula exploitative or disadvanta- ernment revenues and legiti- for sharing oil revenues will geous to Iraq in the long macy. In time, the expanding be a difficult task, but also term. 'oil-spots' would allow for a that there must be agree- A law that guarantees fair substantial reduction of foreign ment if there is to be any and proportionate sharing of troops stationed in Iraq. hope of a unified Iraq surviv- revenues will give disen- Since the 2003 invasion, ing its current tribulations. chanted factions reason to successive Iraqi governments Another issue of contention lay down their arms and in- have struggled to emerge from among those concerned with vest in Iraq’s government the long-shadow cast by their the oil law is the probability it rather than continue their American backers. Critics of the will allow foreign oil compa- path towards anarchy. More- war have repeatedly claimed nies unprecedented access over, such a reduction in that the United States will not to Iraq’s oil market. Particu- violence will deepen the pub- leave Iraq until access to oil is larly, the possibility of produc- lic’s faith in the government ensured; this is largely true. tion sharing agreements and will push the coalition Rather than some conspiracy (PSAs) which guarantee a forces one step closer to the to steal Iraqi oil, however, oil share of revenues to compa- door. This final step, the with- production is a prerequisite for nies in exchange for invest- drawal of foreign forces – so withdrawal because, without oil ment in production capacity long as Iraqi security and revenues, the Iraqi government and exploration has drawn military forces are able to will not succeed. the ire of some critics. hold their own ground, will For all the importance of oil The inability of the Iraqi undercut rejectionist insur- for Iraq, events of the past government, even with the gents and tie the Iraqi gov- three and a half years clearly considerable backing it has ernment’s image to its own indicate there are many other received from the U.S.-led merits rather than to unpopu- ...oil production factors upon which success in coalition, to thus far harness lar foreigners. is a prerequisite Iraq is dependent. Oil has not potential oil revenues is in- For the time being, coali- financed the war as some gov- for withdrawal dicative of its need for for- tion troops must continue to ernment officials, prior to inva- eign investment. In August, because, without serve as the backbone to sion, seemed to intimate it the Oil Ministry unveiled am- Iraqi forces, but their mission might. Anti-U.S. sentiment, oil revenues, the bitious plans for an upgrade needs to be refocused in sectarian division, and rejec- and expansion of increasing Iraqi regards to securing infra- tionism continue to fuel wide- oil infrastructure to include structure. In the September/ spread violence. It would be government will several new processing October 2005 issue of For- naive to imagine that all the ills plants and a ‘mega-refinery’ not succeed. eign Affairs, Andrew F. Kre- that haunt Iraq would disap- alone capable of turning out pinevich argues for an ‘oil- pear if only for robust and equi- 140,000 barrels per day spot strategy’ in Iraq, tably distributed oil revenues. (bpd). Iraqi Oil Minister al- whereby U.S. forces focus on But to succeed in Iraq, specific Shahristani has repeatedly providing security for “certain strategies such as this must be proclaimed the necessity for key areas and then, over debated and implemented. considerable multi-national time, broadening the effort – Oil's potential for good, and its foreign companies to partici- hence the image of an ex- unfortunate history in Iraq, pate in the future develop- panding oil spot.” The plan is should make sound oil policy ment of Iraq’s oil resources. appropriate for oil infrastruc- foremost among these strate- The oil law must allow for ture and expansion of secu- gies. such foreign involvement, rity will be accompanied by even in the form of PSAs, so WWW.AUCEGYPT.EDU/ACADEMIC/MESC/ Page 18

BOOK REVIEW MATTHEW LEVITT’S HAMAS: POLITICS, CHARITY, & TERRORISM REVIEWED BY WILLIAM JON HUMMEL

because many governments, partment documents and undertaken to counter the ince its inception experts, and academics con- congressional testimony. rise of the Palestinian Libera- in 1987, Hamas tinue to subscribe to the shal- tion Organization. Further- S Moreover, his insistence was most well known for low argument that terrorist more, Levitt fails to discuss on proving the connection suicide bombings and at- groups maintain distinct so- the Islamic element of between charity and terror- tacks against Israel, and was cial, political, and militant Hamas, most notably their ism doesn't address why viewed as a fringe group in wings." On the contrary, desire to create an Islamic Hamas came to power in the Palestinian society, commit- Levitt portrays everything state in Palestine. first place. Besides a sen- ted to violence and not de- Hamas does as part of an tence on the opening page If you can get through its mocracy. That all changed in overarching apparatus of that attributes Hamas' suc- many failings, the book does early 2006. Following the terror. cess in the parliamentary contain interesting and infor- surprise Hamas victory in the Throughout the book he elections to a protest vote mative information about Palestinian parliamentary continually repeats this as- against "the septuagenarian Hamas' leading figures and elections, many people sertion, beginning and ending kleptocrats of Yasser Arafat's financiers. It also provides wanted to know more about each section of the book with Fatah party," the question is detailed financial records and Hamas, about its roots, its this thesis. This perhaps is hardly discussed. Nor does histories, giving the reader history, and its possible role one of the book’s greatest Levitt mention Israeli failures insight into how Hamas is in the future. faults. Simply put, Levitt is to deal with moderate Pales- financed. This, unfortunately, In his Hamas: Politics, not a writer. The book is re- tinian political figures. Amaz- is the only redeeming aspect Charity, and Terrorism in the petitive and extremely dry. ingly, he also fails to mention of the book. Service of Jihad, Matthew Many of the same anecdotes the continued occupation of Levitt sets out to answer and statements are repeated Palestine and these questions. But instead throughout. need for a Pal- of providing answers, he estinian state. In fact, Levitt seems so merely glosses over them In other words, intent on proving beyond a briefly. He spends most of he doesn't even doubt that Hamas' charitable the book speaking to how discuss the and terrorist elements are Hamas' political, charitable, number one linked that he neglects to and militant wings are inter- reason Hamas discuss anything else. Per- connected. In fact, he deter- is so popular haps this makes sense, con- mines, everything that among Palestini- sidering that the book was Hamas does, including main- ans: their con- written during his tenure at taining mosques, kindergar- tinued resis- the Washington Institute for ten playgroups, summer tance to a brutal Near East Policy (widely seen camps, hospitals, and or- Israeli occupa- as sympathetic to Israel) and phanages are intimately in- tion. that he now serves as Deputy volved in the group’s terrorist Assistant Secretary for Intelli- Levitt also activities. Levitt writes, gence and Analysis at the neglects to men- "Hamas has successfully United States Treasury De- tion Israeli sup- blurred the lines between partment. Much of his docu- port of Hamas in political and charity activities mentation is taken from de- the mid-1980's, and terrorism in large part classified U.S. Treasury De- OCTOBER 2006 Page 19

ALUMNI UPDATES LENKA BENOVA

Nihal Faisal Khalid W. Abdalla Chotika Suwanwat- conflict. The perspectives Kana'an Sudan, MA, 1997 tana that she gained living and Jordan, BA 1990 Current Job: Works for Shera- Thailand, BA 2005 studying in Cairo have come Personal Update: Married to ton Middle East at Abu Dhabi Academic Update: Master of quite handy this past year, Sami Hidayah, Managing Golf Club By Sheraton; a Studies student at Oxford especially since cultural and Director of an Advertising members' only stand-alone University, Faculty of Oriental religious tensions have in- Agency in Amman, Jordan. golfing resort in Abu Dhabi, Studies, majoring in Modern creased even on our peaceful Nihal has 2 daughters:Tala -9 has been working with them Middle Eastern Studies. This little spot on the planet. years old and Nadine- 4 years as the Credit Manager for the term pursuing History of the old. past 6 years, after working Middle East 1860-1958. Nattasuda Met- Recent Professional Accom- for the Armed Forces Officers Personal Update: Trying to taprasert plishments: Worked with UN Club & Hotel in Abu Dhabi for decide whether to continue Thailand, BA 2005 organizations, based in Am- 3 years. PhD at Oxford or go back to Academic Update: Currently man, from 1992 till 2002 on work as a diplomat for Thai- doing a MA degree in Modern development projects aiming Alya'a Borhan land. Middle Eastern Studies at at creating job opportunities, Egypt, MA 1998 Oxford University. primarily, for women and the Current Job: Working as a Ruth Marit Vatne underpriviledged. Since 2003 diplomat in the Egyptian Em- Norway, MA, 2005 Middle Rita J. Verma till now, working as a Project bassy in Oslo-Norway East Studies and Graduate United States, MA 2006 Coordinator and Project Man- Personal Updates: Married Diploma, Political Science Professional Update: Starting ager with UN organiza- with one daughter who is 3 Current Job: Works as a sen- a job with the United Nations in New York in November tions implementing projects years old. ior executive offi- 2006 as a research associ- for and in Iraq, mainly in the Recent professional accom- cer/secretary for the Bishop ate for Central and South Governance and Poverty Sec- plishments: Currently finish- of Oslo, Church of Norway. Asia. tors. ing a PhD thesis in Econom- Personal Updates: Married ics from Jawaharlal Nehru Moody Shafeek from El Ghada Howaidy University- India. Minya, Egypt, on 13 August Egypt, MA 1991 2005. Current Job: Director of Inter- Nelly El-Zayat Recent professional accom- national Relations at the Egypt, MA, 2000 plishments: It is quite inter- Ministry of Communications Current Job: Associate Direc- esting to work for this Bishop; and Information Technology tor of Admissions, George- he has lived and worked in in Egypt. town University School of the Middle East for a decade Personal Updates: Lives in Foreign Service in Qatar. and is very much involved in Mokattam with husband Dr. Personal Updates: Married to religious dialogue and peace Mamdouh El Halawany and 3 Alsherif Wahdan since May building. In May this year year old daughter Alia. 2004. Alsherif is the Project Ruth was able to travel with Controls Engineer of The him and a few others to Pal- Pearl-Qatar, one of the larg- estine and Israel for a week, est construction develop- visiting religious and political ments in the world. leaders on every side of the NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Muhammad Habib Judge Bastawisi Deputy General 7PM, Blue Room Guide of the Mus- Sponsored by the lim Brothers HUSS Dean 6:30PM, Oriental Hall Co-Sponsored with Political Science Department

26 27 28 29 30 1 2 Lecture: Medicine The Politics of World AIDS Day in Ancient Egypt Energy: Oil, Gas and Blue Room Sheldon Watts the Nuclear Ques- 7-9PM Room 203, Rare tion Books Library Panel Discussion 6 PM Blue Room, Greek Campus 7:30 PM

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mark Danner “Bush in Winter: Al-Banat Doul Middle East Democracy, the (Those Girls) Studies Center Elections, and Film Screening Seminar Bush's Iraq War” Rare Books Library 7PM, Blue Room Mark Danner 4-6PM Public Lecture 5-7PM Oriental Hall, Main Campus

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Lecture: “Is Press Naguib Mahfouz Last day of classes Freedom a Neces- Prize Award sity for Develop- 5PM, Location TBA ment?” Blue Room, Greek Campus 6-8PM

MIDDLE EAST STUDIES OFFICE

5 Youssef El Guindi St. Apt. #4 Phone: (+20-2) 797-5994

E-mail: [email protected]