Egyptian expats living ‘nightmare’

Egyptian expats living ‘nightmare’ Amira Agarib and Nivriti Butalia / 18 August 2013 For Shereen Farooq, an Egyptian national who lives in Dubai, the last week has been a living nightmare. Farooq has stayed glued to the television, and has been on the phone with family back in Al Minya — about 250 kilometres south of Cairo. “I am so scared…so worried,” she says. Her family has not stepped out of the house the last three days. “They have not gone out to even get food supplies as they are afraid that if they step out a sniper will shoot and kill them.” She says a seven-storey building near her family home has been gutted by Mursi  supporters. “They have no respect, no intention to preserve the unity of the people.” She calls the brotherhood “terrorists” and says they have “no respect for humans or holy places” as they have been burning churches. Four churches have been burnt in her hometown. Mohamed Fouda, a journalist with Emarat Alyoum newspaper, says the majority of Egyptian people support the army: “We feel Mursi  betrayed us, so millions of Egyptians revolted against him and the army responded to the people’s resolution.” According to him, Mursi  supporters are in shock now but what they are doing reflects the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood and their plan to confiscate the power. “I feel bad of course, as our families suffer there, but we know this is an inevitable war against terrorism.” While he supported the army and police he says he is very sad about the high number of casualties. “But this is the price to get our freedom from a fascist group.” He says the support from Arab countries is important, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “I didn’t vote for Mursi  in the presidential election, though I called for helping him after he won. But he shocked us when he turned into another dictator and being just a toy in the hands of the extremist leaders of his organisation.” Both Farooq and Fouda spoke to Khaleej Times prior to Mursi ’s ouster in early July, calling for him to step down. The Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE Tamer Mansour says Egypt is “currently in a war against terrorism and violence, but is keen on the stability of Egypt”. The ambassador urged the government and military forces towards national reconciliation. “Egyptians (need) to gather around the road map, in order to achieve political and civil transition and to achieve democratic rule.” Mansour says the UAE “stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in support of Egypt (and) the rule of the Egyptian state”. He says Egyptian security forces “follow all legal methods” peacefully, to preserve the safety of the protesters and ensure a safe exit for them. Denouncing violence and the incitement of violence, Mansour says the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have rejected all peaceful methods. “They also rejected the initiative of Al-Azhar, which was designed to save the Egyptian blood, and save the country where what is happening now is armed, (and facing) violence and terrorism.” nivriti@khaleejtimes.com   Taylor Scott International