Alaa al-Aswany (Photo: Reuters)
Alaa Al-Aswany is more than just a novelist; he is also a prominent political activist and a founder of the Kefaya (Enough) movement, established to oppose the Mubarak regime in 2004.
A recent event to promote Al-Aswany's new book Did the Egyptian Revolution Go Wrong? at Alef Bookstore in Cairo's Maadi district, turned into a heated political discussion, ignited further by the author's daring views.
OIL TYCOONS TAKING OVER
Al-Aswany opened by criticising the number of Islamists in parliament and the body tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution. He accused them of being funded by Gulf countries which are attempting to establish a new regime in Egypt which is closely allied to their interests and will reinforce their position after it was threatened by the Arab Spring.
"Religious currents should reveal their financial resources and the donations they receive. The state is investigating the funding of democratic and civil society organisations, but it never investigates the Islamists. This has to change; the law should prevail over everyone," Al-Aswany said.
GULF FUNDING
The import of ultra-conservative Islamic ideology (Wahhabism) from the Gulf is taking Egypt back 130 years to a time when the prohibition of cinema by Islamic law was discussed, said Al-Aswany.
Wahhabism is a negative influence because it rejects rational thought and promotes an extreme interpretation of Islam which does not accept any alternative view, he added.
ELECTION FRAUD
Egypt's first post-Mubarak elections scheduled for May are supposed to be free and fair, unlike elections before the revolution. However, Al-Aswany said it could be marred by another type of fraud:
"The fraud we'll see in the upcoming presidential elections is different. We will witness manipulation and religious polarisation based on malicious rumours."
COMEDY HISTORY
Al-Aswany vehemently criticised Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri, much to the delight of many audience members.
El-Ganzouri's speeches will be recorded in history under the title, "The History of Comedy," said Al-Aswany, particularly his claim that "Egypt won't bow" to foreign interference, shortly before US pressure forced the lifting of a travel ban on foreign NGO workers accused of working in the country illegally and receiving illicit funding.
Al-Aswany also mentioned the prime minister's comment in parliament that "I haven't change my suit since yesterday." "I really hope he can change his suits and take all the time he needs for his showers [meaning leave his post] but really that's not our concern."
REVOLUTIONARY LEGITIMACY
"Revolutions end when the rule of law and democratic institutions are established, which still hasn’t happened in Egypt," Al-Aswany said, adding that the elected parliament and SCAF-appointed Cabinet are incapable of making decisions because the military junta retains ultimate control.
Al-Aswany concluded with a note of optimism, stating that the revolution hasn’t been defeated, it is merely stumbling over those who refuse to relinquish power – history says it will win in the end.
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