In his last speech, president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi called on the Egyptian people to be as brave and powerful as lions and work hard each in his position. He added that this way Egypt would be so powerful as great lion that nobody can threaten. I remembered this story that my mother used to tell me. The story says a great lion woke up to see a small mouse falling on his leg. The lion grew angry and decided to kill the mouse. Yet, the mouse said he didn’t mean to annoy the great lion, and asked him to leave him in peace and promised to do as much as he can to help the great lion. The lion wondered how can such little mouse be helpful to him, but he let him go. Few days later, the lion was caught in trap and went roaring and asked for help. The mouse went to him and started chewing the net and made a big hole to let the lion escape and was saved thanks to the little mouse. Now, the lion told the mouse: I realized that we can’t live without one another no matter how powerful and mighty we are.

Since many of us don’t believe in personal freedoms, and are not convinced that freedom of dance is similar to freedom of expression and demonstration. Sexual freedom is similar to political freedom and freedom of worship! People should be free to express themselves and form groups and sydicates and personal freedom is the base of public freedoms. Freedoms are inseparable and indivisible. You may be interested in one of the freedoms and focus your efforts on it, but you should not underestimate and criticize those who have other fields of interest and other priorities. When we understand that public freedoms start with personal freedom, you will not support imprisonment of dancers and homosexuals and other people whose moral crimes have no clear definition nor characterization.

Addressing societal issues related to culture that have taken root in thought and behavior of our community over the years need a clear and insightful vision in order to realize and understand how they were formed and how to replace them. If we take, for example, the crime of female circumcision, or crimes of harassment, assault, and violence. They are rooted in our society due to many factors, including authoritarian religious thought that discriminate between girls and boys. While working in the field of development for more than forty years in rural and urban areas, I experienced the prevalence and spread of this culture, passing social classes and educational levels. I found university professors believing in the necessity of female circumcision, and reject to allow women to work. Facing these issues need perseverance and continuity, and we have two great examples of women Aziz Hussein and Mary Asaad who spend their lives to face female circumcision. This is the primary intention of establishing the National Committee to eliminate female circumcision under the joint leadership of the National Council for Women and the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood. We need unity and cooperation to eliminate this problem from our homeland.

I have not found throughout history two countries whose leaders enjoy integrity and honor like Russia and China. These countries are one of the members of the Security Council that is controlled by America, but not when it comes to Russia and China. America owns China a lot of money, but it does not cease to put pressure on the Security Council using the United Nations and its secretary, who is also controlled by the American congress like a doll. I believe that France and Britain may soon rise against the American arrogance. The purpose of America as Hillary Clinton said is to sabotage the Middle East and establish the Islamic caliphate. They may not realize that Egypt and its people were blessed in the Holy Bible. Its Church was established by St. Mark and has a genuine orthodox faith. It was mentioned in the Holy Bible Blessed Egypt my People and its land was visited by the Holy Family as one dear land for God s heart.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II decided to perform reforms inside the church following the steps of the old fathers and using the current technology of the communication. There are many challenges before the new generations with the uncontrollable flow of data and information that criticize the pure Christian faith and attack it. Thus, he decided to give great concern for education just like St. Paul asked his disciple St. Timothy. Reform related to education takes two steps: the first step is the technology of transferring the knowledge, and the other is the original faith of the first church. This is the reason of establishing the Theological seminary and its departments. The challenge before making such reforms is those who reject change and fight against anything new. Here, we need to seek slow but steady reform.

Life most of the time needs us to take the risk and not be afraid of trying new things or changing lifestyles, however, because humans always like stability and feel afraid of any change in his life, he lives stuck in the same routine forever. Risks sometimes bring big prizes and the only effort any one needs to do is to take the step and not be afraid of losing what you have. Sometimes you can t win big until you lose the small things that you are clinging to.

See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. (Jeremiah 21:8) There are two paths before man that he must choose whichever he walks in. The difficult leads to eternal life while the easy way leads to death. HG Bishop Benjamin of Menoufia in his article “The Path Between the Wide and the Narrow” explained to us that the narrow path is the path that the Lord Jesus recommended to us, saying: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Matthew 7: 13). This narrow road is described by St. Paul as a path characterized by fatigue, vigils, fasts, strikes and other hardships, and few choose the narrow path, but many choose the wide path. But why do so many enter through the wide door and few enter through the narrow door? St. Jerome says: “Beware of the desires of the world because they weaken the heart and eliminates the spirit of perseverance and makes people give their spiritual struggle up. Therefore few people continue to be joyful in the cross of the Savior to realize the true resurrection and eternal joy that exists only in heaven. This means that the fundamentals of eternal life is: First, guarding against the desires of the world. Second, we should follow the steps of the fathers and saints. Third, we should seek God s will and follow it. Fourth, we have to struggle in the way without boredom and tiredness, but with the comfort of the Holy Spirit. We ask God to give us strong heart, which does not weaken before the temptations of the world, grant us that we walk with inner joy in the narrow path, and be confident in His promise to grant us the eternal life.

I am speaking to you about a serious problem that will not only affect the individuals, but many countries, including Egypt. This problem is struggle over water supplies and the war on water. Fixing the pipes of water in Cairo may lead to cut the water supplies for hours and even days, which make millions of people suffer and gives them a taste of how big the problem of water is. Some times we make mistakes that lead to waste of water in such critical moment. For examples, the water authority man announce to cut water for millions of apartments and ask them to keep their supplies of water, and sometimes they don’t cut the water and people get rid of it wasting millions of gallons of water. We should realize that saving water now is saving our homeland.

Not all of us are able to express happiness and sadness in several ways. Staying at home and social distancing became our new friends due to the spread of Corona virus, which caused several negative psychological effects. As some people surrendered to such tension and anxiety, others resorted to art to solve their problems and treat Corona s depression. One of them is the Fine artist Jasmine Gad who decided to study energetics and its relationship to drawing and color and its effect on the psychological state of man, and how can negative feelings be removed by color and drawing. She also published a number of videos to teach people how to remove their negative feelings through drawing and color. They didn t have to draw as professionals, but as those who want to get rid of their negative feelings.

While we are close to the American election, I see most polls and recommendations go toward confirming that Biden is the winner and he is the next US president. Unfortunately, doesn t like someone should drag us to have a fair and objective opinion about each candidate s chances to win this election. I remember last election, all polls chose Hillary Clinton as the winner of the US election, however, that dream was demolished by announcing Trump as president of the United States. Everyone including myself believed that Hilarry is the winner because of what the media tried to convince us with.

I read a news that stunned me, and prompted me to be proud of the Egyptian scientists - who, despite the lack of potential, they were able to carry out scientific research and get some results. The scientists who receive very limited support and almost no budget for scientific research were able to produce four vaccines under clinical trials, three of which submitted to the Medical Ethical Committee to study this Scientific research. Once again, Egyptian scientists proved they are great and able to support their country hoping that their country supports them and provide them with the resources they need and deserve in order to help their country and the world.

The equality between men and women in inheritance for Christians is a principle approved by the Egyptian constitution in 2014 where Article Three of it states that “the main source of legislations for Christians and Jews regulate their personal status, religious affairs, and the choice of their spiritual leaders.” Thus, according to the constitution, the principles of Christian law are applicable to the Christian Egyptians, and male and female are equal concerning share of inheritance. This is also stated in Article 247 of the the Coptic Orthodox regulation, with the effect of equality between male and female in the inheritance. However, the courts witnessed a great controversy for the application of these texts. Some rulings supported the inequality between male and female in the inheritance for Christians based on former laws. Yet, we see that these articles have a suspicion of unconstitutionality for violating the text of Article Three of the current Egyptian constitution. It is worth noting that another new ruling was issued on May 20, 2020 by the Cairo Court of Appeal for personal status, a final ruling that orders the application of Christian regulations in disputes relating to the distribution of inheritance between Egyptian Christians. This important ruling created a state of satisfaction in the Coptic community, as it came in accordance with the constitution and the law, and the principles of Christian law. In my estimation, the Personal Status Law for Christians needs fundamental amendments to comply with the 2014 constitution, and it is one of the legislations that should be issued to alleviate the suffering of the Copts. Accordingly, I call on the three Christian denominations, the government, and Parliament to include in the draft law of equal inheritance between male and female Christians. We also appeal to all Egyptian courts for the work of the text of the constitution concerning equality between male and female in the inheritance of Christians according to the Christian teachings.

Turkey didn t choose to enter Libya, but it was forced to for several reasons. Rajab Tayyab Erdogan is trying to join the European Union, but the West has never forgotten the massacre of the Armenians. They showed him that Libya is part of his empire, just like what happened to Saddam Hussein when he imagined that Kuwait is the 19th governorate of Iraq. Saddam was too stupid to swallow the bait that killed him. The same applies to Endogan who was stupid enough to join the war in Libya which is the biggest quagmire for him. I see this action as paying for the crimes of his grandparents who made many countries suffer and now is the time to repay. The Libyans are very fierce and this would make the mission of Turkey in Libya much harder than Erdogan might think. Supporters of the Libyan people will make Turkey suffer more and more because of its stupidity. It was a great mistake of Turkey to enter Libya and my words shall be remembered soon.

My first problem with the Muslim Brotherhood was the topic of the Shura (consulting) as I thought it means democracy. I didn t understand how they call day and night for democracy, but they don t accept or practice it inside their closed rooms. Unfortunately, this dualism is a disease that strikes all of our political life. All parties and currents in Egypt that advocate democracy, freedoms, human rights and the rule of law. They don t really practice it within their organizations and homes first. Although we reject the customary reconciliation sessions to solve sectarian problems and demand the implementation of the law equally on the people without discrimination, we find some defenders of freedoms rejecting law enforcement and calling for customary measures against the harassers, just because one of them has been accused in Harassment crime. It is the same arrogant mentality that sees submitting to the law as humiliating and insulting and that the elite should not submit to the law! Whoever wants a real change must defend the law and the rule of law regardless of whether the accused is a president or a large number of great thinkers or illiterate, rich or poor.

Turkey is doing nothing recently except revoking Egypt and Europe in many ways. Erdogan feels he is the king of the region and doing anything he wants regardless of other countries interests. Turkey is trying to dominate Libya, Iraq and Syria and threatens Egypt and Europe by interfering in their affairs and threatening their national security Which no doubt put pressure on these countries to fight back and engage in conflicts with others.

The European Union announced that it allowed citizens of 5 Arab countries, including Egypt, to enter its territories, after canceling the precautionary measures to confront the Corona virus. A list of 54 countries around the world will benefit from the decision, among them: Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, according to the website of the Schengen Info website. This news, though being shocking for the Gulf countries, but many people see it, including myself, as a testimony to the health system in Egypt, despite all the observations and problems since it was issued by the European Union that cares for its people above all. A greeting to Egypt s doctors and their great efforts during the pandemic. I hope the health system in Egypt improves and overcomes all problems and mistakes that were made till the pandemic is over.

We live in times of surprises that either we create or face. The intervention of thought, religion and philosophy raised the value of man and improved his behavior. Media indeed plays an important role in that account that it became one of main tools to refine the human personality and raise it to the maximum levels of sophistication and urbanization. Thus, media has to play an important role not only for news broadcast, but to teach people about better thinking and behavior. The media has a prominent and effective role in the process of socialization because it is attractive and amusing. It also teaches people about their community as well as all aspects of their lives. Such educational role of the media has to be organized before it destroys the process and confuse the audience. Today, we have very limited control over what our children see, but we need our national media to work hard on preserving our culture and achieving development and reform.

A man should avoid extremism and always think about other people. Thus, I decided to imagine what would I feel if I were a Coptic and hear about shooting 6 people dead in Nag Hammadi on Christmas eve, just for being Christians. This attack that is described as hate crime. The state announces that the Constitution and law deal equally with Egyptians, but Copts don’t enjoy freedom of worship and the religion mentioned on the Egyptian national ID is clear reason for such discrimination. Media is also increasing such discrimination by supporting religious identity of Egypt and mix it with politics. In my book, the revolution of woman, I said that our problem is not in the law, but in how community sees them and the general atmosphere. Extremism works against citizenship and takes away equal citizenship from Coptic Christians. Some religious scholars encourage their followers to avoid dealing with Christians as infidels or unbelievers! The statements of the national football team coach Hassan Shehata in which he stated that adherence to the Islamic religion is a basic criterion for playing in the Egyptian national team! It is true that he retracted this statement and confirmed that they were misunderstood, but indeed they reveal the real situation. The criminals who commit such sectarian incidents don’t represent the majority of Muslims, but they do reflect such rotten atmosphere that I mentioned earlier. I believe that some Coptic activists are trading on the Coptic issue and may offend the case as well as the Copts who decided to stay in Egypt. The Copts who live in Egypt may have heard some people calling them infidels whom shall go to hell, but they love Egypt above all and are willing to sacrifice their souls for their beloved country. This article was published in Al-Ahram and was republished by Ibrahim Saadah in Akhbar Al-Youm, saying I was hoping that I was the author of this article.

I highly appreciate the wisdom, prudence and self-restraint of the Egyptian political leadership and President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi when dealing with the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam during the last five years. They were faced with several challenges including Ethiopian antagonistic declarations obviously designed to draw Egypt into uncontrolled response that would be taken against it in international circles. Egypt wanted to make the situation win-win, with supporting Ethiopian development when saving the Egyptian rights in the Nile River. Egypt realized that Ethiopia only needs the dam to generate electricity and the only problem was the years of filling the dam, when the waters are indeed representing the lifeblood of Egypt’s 100 million population. While Egypt acknowledged Ethiopia’s need to fill the dam reservoir, it had a reasonable and legitimate request to negotiate the schedule of filling the reservoir, in order to reach a balance between the amounts of water withheld by the dam and the amounts flowing downstream to Sudan and Egypt. Any unbiased observer would acknowledge Egypt’s demand as a reasonable request that should have never given rise to stubborn resentment or conflict in the first place. Yet, Ethiopia had clear intention to drag Egypt into a hateful conflict, Ethiopia met Egypt’s request with argumentation and rejection, opening the door for five years of procrastination and bargaining on Ethiopia’s part that refused to the US sponsored pact with Egypt and Sudan. Therefore, I was not at all optimistic about the African virtual mini-summit that was held last month upon invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, current African Union Chief. Due to all previous situations, I doubt the results of the negotiations this time, but I hope I am wrong.

Unfortunately, I feel that Ethiopia deals with the River Nile issue as a compromising issue and neglects to recognize that River Nile for Egyptian is a non-compromised issue and it’s a matter of life or death not only for the politician leaders but also to every Egyptian. All what Egyptian needs is to secure their water in the coming centuries and to make sure that they will not suffer from thirsty in the near or the far future, however, the way Ethiopia deal with the situation show that Ethiopia is not serious and trying to delay and avoid all attempts from Egypt and Sudan to solve this problem.

Many people asked me about my expectations for the upcoming Parliament, and I told them that it will be totally different from the current one as I believe the circumstances have changed. During the current parliament elections, the state needed a member with special characteristics that helps stabilize the institutions of the state that was on the verge of collapse. Yet, the next council needs to support the path of sustainable development in Egypt through a spcial vision and abilities that contributes to and supports the sustainable development goals. Therefore, I am certain that 75% of the MPs will be replaced on the lists. Concerning the individual elections, the state needs to find a better divsion for the segments in order to enable the candidates to work on tighter scale, as the bigger scale needs more orgization and money which is only availabe for the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist currents. Finally, I wish the elections will be postponed since we need unity during such hard times, and the elections will increase division.