Russian Attempts at Primacy in the Near Abroad

Palestinians Assert Presence, Cannot Be Ignored

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Editorial A Weekly Political News Magazine

This week President Vladimir Putin wrote an article, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, to present the Russian narrative of the conflict in Ukraine. In the article, “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians”, Putin wrote his own summary of “the history of Russian and Ukrainian peoples” and that “modern Ukraine is entirely the product of the Soviet era”. In this week’s cover story, Maia Otarashvili reviews Putin’s article and observes the reactions to it, noting that it “gives us a glimpse into (Putin’s) likely plans with Ukraine’s Donbas region” and asserting to what extent Putin is “hung up on Ukraine.”

Turkey’s inflation rate is reaching new heights as the Turkish Central Bank announced the rate’s deterioration for the sixth consecutive year. Jiwan Soz addresses the most recent economic crisis faced by Turkey, citing a prominent financial expert who confirms that solutions such increasing interest rates are leading to slowed investments and subsequently higher unemployment. The expert also indicates that despite Turkey’s economic growth to %5.8, unemployment remains “a structural problem” along with low wages.

Muslims all over the world are preparing for the holy days of Dhul Hijja this week, while pilgrims head to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

Amira Noshokaty recalls the folkloric traditions and festivities associated with Hajj in Egypt long decades ago, some of which are still practiced in Upper Egypt and rural areas.

Read these articles and more on our website eng. majalla.com. As always, we welcome and value our readers’ feedback and we invite you to take the opportunity to leave your comments on our website.

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Stand Up to Racism Demonstration at the Marcus Rashford mural

Soccer Football - Stand Up to Racism Demonstration at the Marcus Rashford mural after it was defaced following the Euro 2020 Final between Italy and England - Withington, Manchester, Britain - July 13, 2021 People look at messages of support on the Marcus Rashford mural after it was defaced following the Euro 2020 Final between Italy and England )Reuters Photos(

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Lionel Messi Wins first Copa America as Argentina beat Brazil in Final Players of Argentina celebrate on the podium with the trophy after winning the Conmebol 2021 Copa America football tournament final match against Brazil at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 10, 2021. - Argentina won 1-0. Rio de Janeiro, , Brazil )AFP Photos(

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Russian Attempts at Primacy in the Near Abroad

Putin’s Op-ed Portrays a Strongman Hung-up on Ukraine

By Maia Otarashvili

York Times, addressing the American public, cautioning them against America’s potential intervention Once in a while Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in Syria. In the ensuing years Russia itself intervened will pen an article and share with the world what’s on heavily in Syria and continues to back the Assad rehis mind. In 2013 he published an op-ed in the New gime. Moscow still argues the US has no place car-

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rying out any operations in Syria and has positioned itself as a clear and present danger to US strategic interests there. Back in June of this year he published an article in German newspaper Die Zeit, on the 80th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union and urging Europe to cooperate with Russia going forward, claiming: “Our common and indisputable goal is to ensure continental security without dividing lines, a common space of equal cooperation and universal development in the name of the prosperity of Europe and the world as a whole.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin answers journalists’ questions about his article titled “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” in Saint Petersburg on July 13, 2021. (Photo

by ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

In these articles Putin aims to essentially rewrite portions of history, and presents narratives important to Russia’s vision of itself as a rightful major player on the global stage. In his Die Zeit article, he refers to the 2014 Euromaidan events in Ukraine as a US-organized coup, and labels Moscow’s illegal annexation of Crimea a “withdrawal of Crimea.” He argues: “Moreover, many countries were put before the artificial choice of being either with the collective West or with Russia. In fact, it was an ultimatum.

The Ukrainian tragedy of 2014 is an example of the consequences that this aggressive policy has led to.

Europe actively supported the unconstitutional armed coup in Ukraine. This was where it all started. Why was it necessary to do this? Then incumbent president Yanukovych had already accepted all the demands of the opposition. Why did the USA organize the coup and the European countries weak-heartedly support it, provoking a split within Ukraine and the withdrawal of Crimea?”

According to Putin it all culminated with the events of Euromaidan in 2014, where in a peaceful protest the people of Ukraine overthrew its Russia-backed government after President Yanukovych refused to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union.

SSR when it left the Soviet Union.”

“The Bolsheviks treated the Russian people as inexhaustible material for their social experiments. They dreamt of a world revolution that would wipe out national states. That is why they were so generous in drawing borders and bestowing territorial gifts. It is no longer important what exactly the idea of the Bolshevik leaders who were chopping the country into pieces was. We can disagree about minor details, background and logics behind certain decisions. One fact is crystal clear: Russia was robbed, indeed.”

What can only be described as a long, emotional diatribe about evil external forces that did everything to take Ukraine away from Russia, brings the Now, another article by Putin, published both in reader to the post-Soviet era, claiming that “step by Russian and Ukrainian, is giving us a glimpse into step, Ukraine was dragged into a dangerous geopolitihis likely plans with Ukraine’s Donbas region, and cal game aimed at turning Ukraine into a barrier bereminds us that Putin is permanently hung up on tween Europe and Russia, a springboard against RusUkraine. The July 12th op-ed style piece is entitled sia. Inevitably, there came a time when the concept “on the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians” of ‘Ukraine is not Russia’ was no longer an option.

Vladimir Putin devotes a whopping 42 paragraphs There was a need for the ‘anti-Russia’ concept which to his own summary of the history of Russian and we will never accept.”

Ukrainian peoples, describing them as one nation and arriving at a conclusion that “modern Ukraine is en- According to Putin it all culminated with the events of Euromaidan in 2014, where in a peaceful protest the tirely the product of the Soviet era.” people of Ukraine overthrew its Russia-backed gov“We know and remember well that it was shaped – ernment after President Yanukovych refused to sign for a significant part – on the lands of historical Rus- an Association Agreement with the European Union: sia. To make sure of that, it is enough to look at the “The legitimate public discontent, caused by acute boundaries of the lands reunited with the Russian state socio-economic problems, mistakes, and inconsistent in the 17th century and the territory of the Ukrainian actions of the authorities of the time, was simply cyni-

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cally exploited. Western countries directly interfered in Ukraine’s internal affairs and supported the coup.

Radical nationalist groups served as its battering ram.

Their slogans, ideology, and blatant aggressive Russophobia have to a large extent become defining elements of state policy in Ukraine.” He further adds that “The coup d’état and the subsequent actions of the Kiev authorities inevitably provoked confrontation and civil war. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that the total number of victims in the conflict in Donbas has exceeded 13,000.

Among them are the elderly and children. These are

What’s most alarming in the article, is Putin’s assertion that the Ukrainian government is not committed to solving the conflict and making compromises with the separatists.

terrible, irreparable losses.” There is no mention of the fact that Russia is directly involved in the conflict in Donbas, arming and supporting the separatists, and that the war would not have sustained for over seven years without Russia’s avid participation.

What’s most alarming in the article, is Putin’s assertion that the Ukrainian government is not committed to solving the conflict and making compromises with the separatists. “Kiev simply does not need Donbas.

Why? Because, firstly, the inhabitants of these regions will never accept the order that they have tried and are trying to impose by force, blockade and threats.

And secondly, the outcome of both Minsk 1 and Minsk 2 which give a real chance to peacefully restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine by coming to an agreement directly with the DPR and LPR with Russia, Germany and France as mediators, contradicts the entire logic of the anti-Russia project. And it can only be sustained by the constant cultivation of the image of an internal and external enemy. And I would add – under the protection and control of the Western powers.”

The rest of the narrative is essentially setting the stage for Moscow to choose from an array of excuses to explain why it feels compelled to take any form of

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-2 Ukrainian students hold a giant EU flag during a protest rally in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on November 2013 ,22. Jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko on November 22 urged supporters to take to the streets in protest at the government’s scrapping of a plan to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. AFP PHOTO/ YURIY DYACHYSHYN (Photo credit should read YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) visits a frontline in Donbass, Ukraine on June 09, 2021. (Photo by Ukrainian Presidency/ Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

decisive action in the future in order to “fix” the situation in Ukraine, because “We are facing the creation of a climate of fear in Ukrainian society, aggressive rhetoric, indulging neo-Nazis and militarizing the country. Along with that we are witnessing not just complete dependence but direct external control, including the supervision of the Ukrainian authorities, security services and armed forces by foreign advisers, military ‘development’ of the territory of Ukraine and deployment of NATO infrastructure. It is no coincidence that the aforementioned flagrant law on ‘indigenous peoples’ was adopted under the cover of large-scale NATO exercises in Ukraine. …

This is also a disguise for the takeover of the rest of the Ukrainian economy and the exploitation of its natural resources. The sale of agricultural land is not far off, and it is obvious who will buy it up. From time to time, Ukraine is indeed given financial resources and loans, but under their own conditions and pursuing their own interests, with preferences and benefits for Western companies.”

In the article Putin regularly speaks of the “Western authors of the anti-Russia project” and claims they have now “set up the Ukrainian political system in such a way that presidents, members of parliament and ministers would change but the attitude of sepa-

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The way Vladimir Putin describes the alleged dire human rights situation in the rest of Ukraine, in his alternative reality narrative, is quite reminiscent of those reports about Russian rule in Crimea. ration from and enmity with Russia would remain.

Reaching peace was the main election slogan of the incumbent president. He came to power with this. The promises turned out to be lies. Nothing has changed.

And in some ways the situation in Ukraine and around Donbas has even degenerated. … In the anti-Russia project, there is no place either for a sovereign Ukraine or for the political forces that are trying to defend its real independence. Those who talk about reconciliation in Ukrainian society, about dialogue, about finding a way out of the current impasse are labelled as ‘pro-Russian’ agents.”

Human rights reports from Russian-occupied territories in the region (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnis-

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tria, Crimea), and especially from Crimea, document terrible human rights violations and environments of fear and intimidation under Russian authorities. The way Vladimir Putin describes the alleged dire human rights situation in the rest of Ukraine, in his alternative reality narrative, is quite reminiscent of those reports about Russian rule in Crimea: “Again, for many people in Ukraine, the anti-Russia project is simply unacceptable. And there are millions of such people. But they are not allowed to raise their heads. They have had their legal opportunity to defend their point of view in fact taken away from them. They are intimidated, driven underground. Not

Putin wants the world to share Russia’s view of the recent historical events and their aftermath – Ukraine is not under attack by Russia, it is not occupied by Russia, Russia is not the enemy.

only are they persecuted for their convictions, for the spoken word, for the open expression of their position, but they are also killed. Murderers, as a rule, go unpunished.”

The article gives a clear picture of Putin’s ambitions with Ukraine. One, he wants the world to share Russia’s view of the recent historical events and their aftermath – Ukraine is not under attack by Russia, it is not occupied by Russia, Russia is not the enemy.

All perceptions of Russia as an enemy are a result of a well-orchestrated Western project to plant and spread anti-Russian sentiments in Ukraine. Two, he has worked hard to present to the Russian people a Ukraine that is not independent nor autonomous, and now he wants to promote that alternative reality to the rest of the world, and particularly to Ukrainians themselves. His version of Ukraine today is essentially a crumbling shell of a country occupied by the West. Its government is a mere group of puppets controlled by the West keen on abusing Ukraine’s economic potential and energy resources while promoting neo-Nazi sentiments and actively “militarizing” the country.

Three, Putin is incredibly ambitious about Russia’s entitlements in Ukraine, and it is clear there will be no conflict settlement in Donbas unless it comes with a guarantee of Russian primacy over the rest of Ukraine: “Russia is open to dialogue with Ukraine and ready to discuss the most complex issues. But it is important for us to understand that our partner is defending its national interests but not serving someone else’s, and

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Ukrainian nationalists gather by a statue of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko on the 7th anniversary of the 2014 Odessa clashes between pro- and anti-Euromaidan activists and the Trade Unions House fire. Fortyeight people died and 240 were injured in Odessa on May 2, 2014. (Photo

by Arkhip Vereshchagin\ TASS via Getty Images)

A painting depicting Russian president Vladimir Putin on a train on display during an exhibition of paintings by Ukrainian artist Tatyana PonomarenkoLeverash at the offices of the Russian State Duma; focused on Donbass and Syria, the exhibition is titled “The Future begins in the Past; Russia - the World; Syria; Donbass”.

(Photo by Marat Abulkhatin\TASS via Getty Images)

is not a tool in someone else’s hands to fight against us. We respect the Ukrainian language and traditions.

We respect Ukrainians’ desire to see their country free, safe and prosperous.”

“I am confident that true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia. Our spiritual, human and civilizational ties formed for centuries and have their origins in the same sources, they have been hardened by common trials, achievements and victories. Our kinship has been transmitted from generation to generation. It is in the hearts and the memory of people living in modern Russia and Ukraine, in the blood ties that unite millions of our families.”

Putin is incredibly ambitious about Russia’s entitlements in Ukraine, and it is clear there will be no conflict settlement in Donbas unless it comes with a guarantee of Russian primacy over the rest of Ukraine.

best interests, therefore no dialogue can be possible.

If this article is any indication, and it should be seen The article has rightfully worried some experts, some as such, more Russian aggression and meddling in of whom see it as Putin’s intellectual justification of Ukraine should be expected. While the West may upcoming plans to annex Donbas. Putin’s spokesper- seek to find ways to thaw its relations with Moscow, son during a recent press conference declined to com- at least slightly, and find areas of collaboration, Pument. President Zelenskiy of Ukraine resorted to his tin’s Russia unapologetically seeks to double down on usual humor when commenting on the article, say- its investments to secure and widen its gains towards ing he is envious that Putin has so much time on his achieving primacy in its near abroad, and especially hands to write such a detailed article, adding that Pu- in Ukraine. tin’s claims about the “brotherly ties between Russia and Ukraine “looks more like Cain and Abel”. Zelen- Maia Otarashvili is a Research Fellow and Deputy skiy has been seeking a summit with Putin in hopes Director of the Eurasia Program. Maia also serves of resolving the ongoing conflict in Donbas, but has as the Deputy Director of Research at FPRI. Her not yet succeeded. As Putin explains in his article, he research interests include geopolitics and security does not see the current Ukrainian government as in- of the Black Sea-Caucasus region, Russian foreign dependent, nor does he believe it represents Ukraine’s policy, and the post-Soviet “frozen” conflicts.

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Palestinians Assert Presence, Cannot Be Ignored Recent Upheaval Causes Growing Shift in Intl. Public Opinion, Rising Unity of Palestinians

By Rashid Khalidi The intense violence in Israel and Palestine in May resembled similar episodes in recent decades. But it also had several distinct features, chief among them the newfound unity of Palestinians everywhere. Palestinians rose up together in the face of the divisions

that Israel has imposed on them and those created by the shortsighted partisanship of their leaders. They mounted demonstrations throughout the country in response to Israel’s heavy-handed repression in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah and al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and its bombardments of Gaza that killed over 250 people. Israel tried to squash these protests,

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leading to eruptions of mob violence mainly directed against Palestinians in cities inside Israel such as Acre, Haifa, and Jaffa. Israeli forces killed dozens of Palestinian protesters in the West Bank. Then on May 18, Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, inside Israel, and in diaspora communities in Lebanon, Jordan, and elsewhere mounted a general strike, the first to encompass all of historic Palestine since the six-month general strike of 1936.

The deck remains stacked against the Palestinians, however, and a new Israeli government seems no more likely than its predecessor to cease its abuses and the policies that have made remote any prospect of a just and acceptable political settlement. But the stirring of a new generation of Palestinians offers some grounds for hope. A revivified Palestinian national movement can dispense with the assumptions and failures of previous generations and, through its actions and messaging, make clear the untenability of the status quo.

Protesters hold a large Palestinian flag and placards during a demonstration demanding justice for Palestine.

Many pro-Palestinian groups have protested in cities around the world.

(Photo by Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The recent upheaval has brought about a unique moment, with both the growing shift in international public opinion and the nascent reunification of the Palestinian people at the grassroots level.

were refugees displaced from the cities of Acre and Haifa in 1948. Media accounts also noted that although Israeli Jews are allowed to make claims to property in occupied Arab East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Palestinians are barred from making COURSE CHANGE analogous claims to any of their extensive properties confiscated by Israel all over the country in the past For years, pundits and politicians have declared that seven decades. the Palestinians were defeated and demoralized and Alongside this media awakening, people in the West that their cause had lost its salience. The administra- seemed more understanding of the real politics at tion of U.S. President Donald Trump translated this work in Palestine. Israel’s apologists in Washington, view into policies even more stridently anti-Palestin- London, and Berlin naturally trotted out the standard ian than those that preceded them. This understand- clichés about Israel’s right to self-defense, but they ing that the Palestinians could safely be forgotten was could not mask the changing tone both in the political also the basis of the normalization of relations be- arena and in the large demonstrations in support of tween Israel and four Arab countries in 2020. But the Palestinians in Australia, Canada, the United Kinguprising in the West Bank, the countrywide general dom, the United States, and elsewhere. For perhaps strike, and the solidarity of the Palestinian diaspora the first time, public discourse in all four of those delivered a clear message: the Palestinians cannot be countries (which share legacies of dispossessing inignored. digenous peoples) featured discussion of the settler Western media coverage of events in May also de- colonialist nature of generations of Israeli policies parted from the norm. For once, broadcasters and toward the Palestinians. Activists reinforced paralnewspapers did not blindly repeat Israeli talking lels to the oppression highlighted by the Black Lives points about indiscriminate Palestinian terrorist rock- Matter movement, and many young Americans now et fire against Israeli civilians—a claim of Palestinian connect the injustice they have seen in places such instigation and culpability that such outlets ritually as Ferguson, Missouri, to what they saw in Sheikh invoke as soon as the first Hamas rocket is fired, in Jarrah and other locales where security forces use the the process effacing 54 years of Israeli military oc- same U.S.-manufactured tear gas and the same milicupation and 73 years of Palestinian dispossession. tarized policing tactics.

Instead, these chronic patterns of injustice and abuse Of course, changes in media coverage and public appeared prominently in both mainstream and social opinion have seemed to swing in favor of the Palmedia. For example, many reports explained that the estinians before, and they do not necessarily presage Sheikh Jarrah families slated for eviction by Jew- any meaningful political change. Such shifts ocish settlers with the support of Israeli security forces curred at the time of Israel’s siege of Beirut in 1982,

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during its fierce suppression of the unarmed first intifada starting in 1987, and during its three wars on the trapped residents of the Gaza Strip from 2008 to 2014 (the latter of which killed over 2,200 people).

Each time, assiduous public relations work by the Israeli government and its friends mostly repaired the tattered screen that protects Israeli practices from real scrutiny. A frantic effort to do the same thing is underway at this moment. But there are reasons to believe that things might turn out differently this time.

A TURNING POINT ?

The recent upheaval has brought about a unique moment, with both the growing shift in international public opinion and the nascent reunification of the

A new generation of young Palestinian activists has no time for the slogans, politics, and leaders of the past. These activists are operating on the same wavelength throughout Palestine and in the diaspora.

Palestinian people at the grassroots level. The Palestinians have an opportunity to reestablish their frayed national movement, unify their ranks, and agree on a strategic agenda that they can clearly communicate globally. To achieve this uphill task, they will have to supersede existing political structures— notably the framework put in place by the Oslo accords, including the creation of the Palestinian Authority—that have produced only a generation of failed leaders, repressive governance, patronage-based corruption, popular demobilization, and no strategy for liberation. The two political parties that have long dominated Palestinian politics—Fatah and Hamas—seem structurally weaker and less popular than ever before, notwithstanding the considerable external support they receive. This is true even of a currently buoyant Hamas, whose own internal polling predicted it would lose in the elections that were scheduled for May but which were postponed by the president of the Palestinian Authority, whose legal term in office ended over a decade ago.

A new generation of young Palestinian activists has no time for the slogans, politics, and leaders of the past. These activists are operating on the same wavelength throughout Palestine and in the diaspora.

Young people are taking the political initiative today, sparking a new phase of the effort for Palestinian liberation, as they have done repeatedly in the past—for example, by launching the 1936 general strike and the 1987 intifada. They will face a hard task in overthrowing the older generation of leaders and the ex-

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A member of the Israeli security forces takes aim with a rubber-coated bullet launcher during a protest by Palestinians in response to chants by Israeli ultranationalists targeting Islam’s Prophet Mohammed in the March of Flags earlier this week, following the Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, on June ,18 2021. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Terms that were never employed in the past about Israel, such as “systemic racism,” “Jewish supremacy,” “settler colonialism,” and “apartheid,” are being debated and becoming part of U.S. and left-wing Israeli public conversations.

Demonstrators hold up images of late Palestinian activist Nizar Banat, who died in late June during a violent arrest by Palestinian Authority security forces, as they march during a protest in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 2021 ,2.

(Photo by MOSAB SHAWER/AFP via Getty Images)

tion and the refined system of domination in place both inside Israel and in the occupied Palestinian tensive security and financial structures that protect territories. Terms that were never employed in the them. But the tide is turning, as evident in the recent past about Israel, such as “systemic racism,” “Jewish popular anger directed against the Palestinian lead- supremacy,” “settler colonialism,” and “apartheid,” ership. Nizar Banat, a stern critic of the Palestinian are being debated and becoming part of U.S. and Authority, died in its custody in June, sparking wide- left-wing Israeli public conversations. This remains spread unrest that has underlined the extreme fragil- the case despite the increasingly desperate attempt ity of these leaders’ hold on power. of Israel’s defenders to paint support for Palestinian The willingness of many Americans to take a deeper rights or criticism of the policies of a foreign state and more searching look at Israel and Palestine is as “anti-Semitic.” These changes in discourse in the also encouraging. Young people, including many in United States and Europe could have powerful pothe Jewish community, are more critical than their litical consequences, even if no immediate change in elders were of the myths that have long shielded Is- policy seems likely. Ultimately, they could lead to rael from scrutiny—the notions that “God gave this a decline in the immense military, diplomatic, and land to Israelis”; that before the creation of the Israeli financial support that Israel enjoys from its allies in state, Palestine was “a land without a people”; that the West. only Israel “made the desert bloom”; and that Isra- If all of this seems to be new, and may constitute el is “the only Middle Eastern democracy.” Social a turning point, much has not changed. Both in the media are far ahead of the mainstream media in this United States and globally, there remains an almost respect, spreading indelible video images of Israeli irrational attachment to the pretense of a “two-state forces firing tear gas and stun grenades into the al solution,” the notion that the only way to bring lastAqsa mosque, the most sacred Muslim shrine in Pal- ing peace to the region is through the creation of an estine, as worshipers were at prayer during the holy independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Promonth of Ramadan; the destruction of entire multi- ponents of the two-state solution refuse to recognize story buildings in Gaza; Jewish lynch mobs roaming its essential prerequisite: the demolition of the forArab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and in cities midable structural impediments, both physical and within Israel; and Palestinian demonstrators in the administrative, that Israeli leaders of all stripes have West Bank shot down with live ammunition. Such erected since 1967 to prevent the creation of a sovthings cannot be unseen. ereign, contiguous Palestinian state. These methodiThese vivid images have helped to pierce the cocoon cal efforts involved the effective annexation of most that the media’s coverage has faithfully maintained of the occupied territories and the illegal transfer of around the 54 years of “temporary” military occupa- nearly 750,000 colonists (over ten percent of Isra-

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el’s Jewish population) into these territories, in the context of the massive construction of colonial settlements, exclusive roads, and water and communication systems—the largest infrastructure project in the country’s post-1967 history.

Without the reversal of the creeping incorporation of what is left of Palestine into the greater land of Israel—the core objective of most Israeli political parties, including those that account for perhaps 100 of 120 members of the Knesset—the invocation of a two-state solution is just a fig leaf for the unending dispossession of the Palestinian people. There is currently no prospect of an international effort to undo the facts on the ground that Israel has created to make a viable Palestinian state impossible. Nevertheless, the stubborn resistance of the Palestinian people to the efforts to dispossess and efface them from history may have forced a turning point. A new paradigm is taking shape, based on equal rights for all in Palestine and Israel, both collectively and individually, whether via an increasingly improbable two-state solution, a single state or binational entity, or a federal, cantonal, or other framework. Growing numbers of Palestinians and Israelis understand the high odds against the implementation of a two-state solution and are exploring some of these alternatives.

Advocates of such schemes must offer a comprehensive exposition of how these options would work in practice before they can gain real traction. But Israel’s persistent opposition to a truly independent Palestinian state paradoxically makes the need for these alternatives all the more urgent.

Without the reversal of the creeping incorporation of what is left of Palestine into the land of Israel, the invocation of a twostate solution is just a fig leaf for the unending dispossession of the Palestinian people.

This emerging new paradigm will probably not have a short-term impact on U.S. policies or those of other powerful countries. U.S. politicians and foreign policy mandarins, liberal Zionists, and most international actors are too invested in the two-state solution for that approach to be supplanted anytime soon. Meanwhile, major international actors, the United States foremost among them, have shown little interest in preventing Israel from blocking the path toward a two-state solution. This acquiescence permits Israel to continue its brutal “management” of its Palestinian problem while refusing any movement toward a real resolution, an approach that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu perfected during his many years in office.

The new government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will likely follow the course set by its predecessor, as its ruling coalition is so disparate that no new consensus on the Palestinian issue is possible. There remains a solid right-wing Knesset majority on both sides of the aisle in support of the ongoing colonization of the occupied territories and the denial of national and other rights to the Palestinian people. This hard-line position is among the greatest obstacles to change. A new paradigm—even when more fully de-

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Palestinian residents stand by the rubble of a shop demolished

by Israeli authorities in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem’s predominantly Arab neighborhood of Silwan, on June 2021 ,29.

(Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

These changes in discourse in the United States and Europe could have powerful political consequences, even if no immediate change in policy seems likely.

veloped—is unlikely to have much immediate effect in persuading Jewish Israelis to abandon a status quo so unfavorable to the Palestinians.

A REVIVED NATIONAL MOVEMENT The Palestinians have the capability to change this situation, however. A revivified Palestinian national movement could challenge and ultimately transform the current untenable status quo. Such a movement would require extremely difficult political shifts and a cold reevaluation of Palestinian strategy and aims— hopefully driven by the election of new and younger leaders who can chart a fresh approach. This would involve several major efforts. Palestinians must show forcefully, and ideally nonviolently, the unsustainability of the status quo, which they successfully did during the unarmed first intifada from 1987 to 1991.

And they must either revive the moribund possibilities of Palestinian national independence alongside Israel or, more likely, chart a vision of a future course for the Palestinians in a new postcolonial political structure shared with their Israeli neighbors. External actors who cherish their influence over their favored Palestinian clients and allies may resist such changes,

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but the Palestinians have in the past shown the ability to transcend such external intervention—as they did under Yasir Arafat’s leadership from the late 1960s through the 1980s—and could do so again.

The positive change already witnessed in global discourse on Palestine is in large part due to the effectiveness of Palestinian civil society initiatives and on-the-ground youth activism in the occupied Palestinian territories, the United States, and elsewhere. A rejuvenated, unified, democratic Palestinian national movement led by a new generation and built around a robust set of political goals would multiply that impact on Israeli, U.S., and international public opinion.

The communication of an authoritatively presented Palestinian political message rooted in the principle of equality and backed by political, diplomatic, and mass action would decisively prove the unsustainability of Israel’s continued oppression of the Palestinians.

These transformations in Palestinian society and politics may be slow to come, or could arrive rapidly, or may not happen at all. Without them, the frozen confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians will continue to thaw, only much more slowly. In any case, it is already manifestly clear that an outmoded colonial system such as Israel’s, based on the supremacy of one ethnic group and the subordination of another, is incompatible with the values of democracy and equality. Although they are fiercely contested, these remain the leading values of the twenty-first century. An evolving Palestinian national movement with these values at its heart can only have positive effects locally and globally.

This article was originally published on ForeignAffairs.com.

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Europe Seeks to Combat “Political Islam”

EU Tries Individual and Collective Legislations to Address Extremism

By Jassim Mohamad - Bonn

to Sharia and the establishment of an Islamic state.

The ideological roots of Jihadist Terror «Political Islam» is a term for all ideological and political currents that aim to establish a state (caliphate) based on the principles of Islam, whether at the state level or at the community level. Today, «political Islam» is mostly used in Islamism and thus religious radicalism and terrorism.

The irony is that political Islam is a concept that arose in the seventies and eighties of the twentieth century to describe the phenomenon of the return of religion to the political sphere, as a response to secular authoritarian regimes by calling for a return

A STEP TOWARDS CONFRONTING EXTREMISM From early 2021, there was a new imam training course in Germany, as announced by the «Islam College Deutschland» (IKD) in Berlin and around 30 participants trained since April/ 2021. The training was conducted in German language only.

The project is funded by the German Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Science in Lower Saxony. The founding members of the College of Islam include Islamic scholars,

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public figures and Islamic bodies such as the Central Council of Muslims in Germany.

NICE AND VIENNA WITNESS TERROR ATTACKS

European Union flags at Berlaymont building of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.

(Getty Images)

Along with the trial of those involved in the attack on the newspaper «Charlie Hebdo» in September 2020, and the attacks in Nice and Vienna, the issue of radicalization of Islamist terrorist groups in Europe has once again occupied the Agenda of the European Commission. Thus, the police and intelligence services have put themselves on alert, given the capabilities of the «ISIS» and «Al-Qaeda» to reorganize themselves. Only some hours after a terrorist attack in Vienna Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz called on the European Union to combat «political Islam», considering it an «ideology» that poses a «threat to the European model of living».

The Austrian chancellor explained in an interview with the German newspaper «Die Welt» on Nov. 2020 ,3: «The European Union should focus more on the problem of political Islam in the future,» indicating his conviction that the issue of combating political Islam will impose itself as a main topic in the upcoming European summits. He added, «I expect the end of tolerance, which is misunderstood and all European countries are aware of the danger that the ideology of political Islam poses to our freedom and the European model of living.»

The “Telepolis” website published a report by the writer “Alka Dangalite” that talked about the dangers of political Islam to Europe and the apparent unrest by political parties, especially on the German scene, with regard to confronting the dangers of these currents exploiting organizations and mosques to create parallel societies, and eliminating the pillars of security and stability in societies.

MODERN CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN THE OLD CONTINENT The terrorist attacks in Austria and France during the last quarter of 2020 raised serious questions about the models adopted to combat the scourge of extremism in European countries that are most affected by the attacks of terrorist groups backed by political Islam organizations.

Terrorist attacks did not stop despite the measures taken in those countries, but they declined thanks to local policies that eventually led to curbing the escalation of these attacks, which feed on “lone wolf” elements, who in turn carry out terrorist attacks in an attempt by extremist groups to prove their existence.

Austria announced, on July 2021 ,8, the expansion of sanctions against the «Muslim Brotherhood» and the rest of the extremist groups, the fascist Croatian Ustasha movement and all other entities listed by the European Union as terrorist groups. The background to the decision goes back to 1st March, 2019 and possibly the 2015 decision. The ban is intended as an attempt to reduce the role of civil society organizations in Austrian

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Political Islam is a concept that arose in the seventies and eighties of the twentieth century to describe the phenomenon of the return of religion to the political sphere, as a response to secular authoritarian regimes by calling for a return to Sharia and the establishment of an Islamic state. political life.

It appears that Austrian Muslim organizations act as a major driver for the implementation of more radical policies. Prior to this expansion, the law clearly prohibited the symbols of each of the following organizations: ISIS, the Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, the Turkish Gray Wolves, the Kurdistan Workers Party, Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, and Hizb al-Tahrir.

GERMANY WARNED AGAINST DANGER OF MB Germany said during the month of May 2021 that it would not allow its territory to be made a safe haven for any extremist groups, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. It said that it would not allow the organization to engage in any activity that could be classified as «illegal», or that contributes to the spread of extremist ideology and incites violence. The German statements came after security and intelligence reports had warned earlier of the danger of the Brotherhood›s spread inside the country and its relationship to the increase in violence and extremism. The new German move comes hours after Austria passed a new law to combat terrorism and extremism

SWITZERLAND COMBATING MB Switzerland has been involved in combating Muslim Brotherhood and political Islamic organizations in recent months, taking steps against the terrorist network including the “MB”. The Swiss newspaper «Zuercher Unterlander» revealed that there are strong steps within the Swiss parliament against the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam groups in general, in light of the rising threat of terrorism and extremism in Europe.

The newspaper was referring to the draft law on political Islam submitted by prominent MP Lorenzo Quadri, in December

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2020. The bill, which was discussed by the Parliament›s Justice Committee, calls for the introduction of a new criminal offense under the name «political Islam» to protect internal security, banning associations that adopt this ideology and closing their mosques and cultural centers in Switzerland.

«The Swiss government wants to introduce a new criminal offense (against) political Islam, an ideology that paves the way to terrorism,» the project›s introduction said. «Switzerland can no longer pretend to be an island; in two months there were two terrorist attacks in Morges and Lugano in Switzerland,» the project continued, adding that «the legal tools available in Switzerland today to combat Islamic extremism are insufficient.»

The terrorist attacks in Austria and France during the last quarter of 2020 raised serious questions about the models adopted to combat the scourge of extremism in European countries that are most affected by the attacks of terrorist groups backed by political Islam organizations.

THE RISKS OF EXTERNAL FINANCING «Erdogan›s extremist network poses a threat to public security in Germany and should be dismantled instead of supporting it,» said Sevim Dagdelin, a German MP for the Left Party, in October 2020, referring to the financing of mosques run by the Turkish Islamic Union «Ditib» with taxpayers› money in some German states.

Armin Laschet, Prime Minister of Germany’s Rhine state, explained in November 2020 that “Erdogan’s policy has reached mosques and has become more dangerous and unacceptable things have happened.”

“What happened is not because of people’s extremism towards terrorism, but because of Turkish policy. There are a lot of shortcomings in the European Union,» says Markus Ferber, finance spokesman for the Christian Democratic bloc in the European Parliament, “Money launderers and their aides take advantage of the fact that EU member states do not strictly enforce regulations, do not coordinate among themselves, and there is no European oversight with a real mandate to intervene,” Ferber adds.

On March 2021 ,25, Britain witnessed an integrated review of the UK›s security, defense, development and foreign policy.

The review presents a global Britain taking a «stronger stance» on security and defense and committed to working alongside friends and allies to defend openness, human rights and democratic ideals around the world.

Boris Johnson described the review as the largest of its kind since the Cold War. Much has, of course, changed since then.

The democratic values and ideals that Britain swore to defend are now as threatened as they were when the Berlin Wall

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Armin Laschet, prime minister of Germany’s Rhine state and the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who is also the CDU chancellor candidate, walks along the bank of the Spree River after the annual ARD television summer interview near the Reichstag on July 11, 2021 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images).

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech during a visit to the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry, central England on July 15, 2021. West Midlands.

15th July 2021. (Photo by DAVID ROSE/POOL/ AFP via Getty Images)

separated the East from the West.

The Cabinet Office was drafting the first revision of the CONTEST strategy in 2002, and Prevent, the first policy of its kind that would boost the UK›s reputation as an industry leader, was already shaping up to be a key part of it. Although thinking about each component of the strategy has evolved significantly since then, the original quartet of Prevent, Tracing, Protect, and Prepare are still there.

EU NEW POLICIES TO COUNTER “POLITICAL ISLAM” French President Emmanuel Macron declared on October ,2 2020, that France should «confront Islamic isolationism» aimed at «establishing a parallel regime» and «against the republic».

President Macron›s speech was during his visit to Les Moreaus, a neighborhood in the Paris suburb. Macron said there is a radical Islamic tendency (...) a declared determination to establish a systematic structure to circumvent the laws of the republic and establish a parallel system based on different values, and develop a different organization of society,» considering that Islam «is a religion that is experiencing a crisis today everywhere in the world.» Macron considered that the authorities bear part of the responsibility for the development of the phenomenon of «the transformation of neighborhoods into ghettos».

He said, «We grouped the population according to their origins.

We did not intend to create enough mixing, nor enough to enable them to achieve economic and social progress,» stressing that they (the Islamists) «built their project on our retreat and failure.»

Macron introduced a set of measures such as requiring any

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Germany said during the month of May 2021 that it would not allow its territory to be made a safe haven for any extremist groups, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. association that requests state assistance to sign a charter of secularism, imposing strict supervision on private religious schools and strictly limiting home schooling On December 2020 ,9, French Prime Minister Jean Castix asserted that the law «which reinforces the principles of the French Republic» and which was introduced is not «against religions» but targets «extremist pernicious thought». The project, which includes about 50 articles, is one of the major bills under Macron, to respond to the French fears of terrorist operations carried out by extremists fuelled by the assassination of the French teacher Samuel by beheading in mid- October 2020, after he showed his students caricatures insulting to the Prophet Muhammad and the attack on a cathedral in Nice. It took a series of measures to combat extremism, which led to the closure of 400 associations, mosques, sports halls and other sites.

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SECURITY COOPERATION WITHIN THE EU Security cooperation and coordination within the European Union is among the most important priorities set by the European Commission, after the increasing dangers of religious and ideological extremism. The European Commission has made great efforts to establish real and effective cooperation between the countries of the European Union.

The European security and intelligence services include all parties that play a role in the intelligence missions and enforcement of anti-terror laws in the European Union. It includes national and European parties such as national intelligence agencies, security agencies and national police agencies.

As for the European parties, they include the European Union Intelligence and Operations Center INTDIV, the EUMS Military Staff, the European Union Operations Center SitCen, Europol, the EUSC, the European Council and the European

In May 2018, the European Commission welcomed the decision of the company operating the “Snapchat” application, to join the European Code of Conduct to combat hate speech and extremist content on the Internet.

Commission, and the various bilateral and multilateral task forces, the European Commission on Counter-Terrorism, the European Judicial Cooperation Unit, Interpol, the European Police Institute, the heads of the task force consisting of the police and Frontex. Each agency cooperates to counter terrorism, focusing on the following objectives: Elimination of terrorists and their organizations, ending state sponsorship of terrorism, Interception and obstruction of material support for terrorists, Elimination of safe havens for terrorists.

COUNTER -TERROR LAWS EFFORTS IN EUROPE IN 2021 On 15th June, 2021, the European Union adopted three proposals for financing internal affairs policies, within the framework of the multi-year fiscal budget covering the years 2027-2021.

The proposals strengthen the Internal Security Fund and intensify efforts to deter forms of terrorism, extremism, serious and organized crime, and cybercrime.

IMPROVING INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION On 29 April, 2021, the European Parliament imposed severe restrictions on online platforms, for the year 2022 in the European Union regarding the removal of “terrorist content” on the Internet and the removal of messages, photos and videos “of a terrorist nature” within an hour.

Exceptions apply to content posted for educational, journalistic, artistic or research purposes. «This legislation will make it more difficult for terrorists to exploit the web for online recruitment, incitement to online attacks and the glorification of their

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4- A guest lays a rose at a memorial for the victims during a ceremony marking the 5th anniversary of a jihadist truck attack, which killed 86 people on Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais, in the French coastal city of Nice on July 14, 2021.

- A man drove a truck into a crowd, killing 86 people, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group at a Bastille Day fireworks display.

(Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)

In this photo illustra� 5-� tion the multimedia messaging SnapChat logo is seen on an Android mobile device screen with the European Union (EU) flag in the background.

(Photo Illustration by Chukrut Budrul via )Getty Images

atrocities online,» said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.

In May 2018, the European Commission welcomed the decision of the company operating the “Snapchat” application, to join the European Code of Conduct to combat hate speech and extremist content on the Internet.

The decision of “Snapchat” brings the number of information technology platforms under the umbrella of the European Code of Conduct to seven, and on the other hand seventy percent of extremist content was removed out of more than eightyone percent of cases within 24 hours, after pressure from the European Commission on social media companies to delete extremist content. In matters of justice, the companies that joined the code are working to implement it on a growing basis, and that the monitoring operations carried out in cooperation with non-governmental organizations have shown positive results.

In addition, there is also extremist propaganda on the Internet, as well as extremist fatwas emanating from some mosques associated with countries that support extremism and terrorism, or by groups organizationally linked to “Salafist jihadism,” the Muslim Brotherhood, and extremist groups.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? The danger of political Islam to the security of Europe is more dangerous than ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and this is due to the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam groups of all kinds adopted soft policies to penetrate society and get closer to state institutions, in order to present themselves as a “representative” to Muslim communities, in Europe, and then to achieve political interests and spread their extremist ideology

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A Swiss bill calls for the introduction of a new criminal offense under the name “political Islam” to protect internal security, banning associations that adopt this ideology and closing their mosques and cultural centers in Switzerland. instead of providing services to Muslim communities.

Here it is important for European countries to review laws and policies, especially in combating extremism locally, in order to limit the influence of political Islam in Europe and reduce the symbols of political Islam, in order to lower the morale of its supporters and reduce sources of funding and recruitment.

Jassim Mohamad is a researcher who focuses on international security & counter-terrorism; his work covers Europe, Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran and Yemen), and African Sahel.

He is the Head of the European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies ECCI. Jassim Mohamad is a researcher who focuses on international security & counter-terrorism; his work covers Europe, Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran and Yemen), and African Sahel.

He is the Head of the European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies ECCI.

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Turkish Inflation Balloon Increased Interest Rates Slow Investments, Unemployment Up - Financial Expert to Majalla

By Jiwan Soz - Istanbul Inflation in Turkey jumped to 17.5 percent last June, after it was 16.6 percent in May, surpassing expectations. The year-end inflation forecast from the Turkish Central Bank was 12.2 percent, at a time when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated talk of a conspiracy targeting his country›s economy.

Narrowing the gap between inflation and interest rates has led to lower returns on bank deposits denominated in lira, and this put pressure on the value of the national currency as the Turks used to maintain their savings in US dollars, euros and gold.

The lira fell to a record high above 8.8 per dollar at the beginning of June as a result.

The currency is expected to trade at 8.99 to the dollar by the end of the year, according to a survey

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The flag of the Republic of Turkey and logo of Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) on a flag, are seen in Ankara, Turkey on December 2019 ,20.

(Photo by Aytac Unal/ Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

conducted by the central bank last week.

Well-known economist and financial expert Hayri Kozanoğlu said, «Consumer price inflation is 17.5 percent. But producer prices increased by 42.9 percent annually, which will make upward pressure on consumer prices especially via depreciating Turkish lira. Among the public, the reality is assumed to be higher than official figures».

He added also: “High inflation increases the dollarization tendency. Households and firms tend to buy foreign currencies to protect themselves against inflation. Also in inflationary environments people tend to purchase goods and services immediately.

This behavior feeds inflation too.”

«The general assumption that inflation and unemployment have an inverse relationship proved to be incorrect. Because to be able to prevent inflation’s further increase, the most effective instrument is high interest rates. But if you increase the interest rates, then investments slow, then unemployment rises. This is just the situation which the Turkish economy suffers in recent years. High inflation and high unemployment,» he added.

The economist also noted that: “Turkey has a structural unemployment problem. Even though the economy grows, unemployment continues to be high, especially among women and youngsters.

Then people accept insecure, low paid jobs and the bargaining power of labor against capital weakens.

This is just the situation in Turkey: low wages and high unemployment.”

On the other hand, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey “CBRT” (or Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası “TCMB”) reported that average economic growth forecasts this year rose to 5.8 percent from 4.9 percent in June. The estimate increased from 3.9 percent in January.

High inflation has caused fears among foreign investors, some of whom have already started moving their investments out of Turkey.

Goldman Sachs has reduced its forecast for interest rate cuts by the CBRT until the end of the year and increased its inflation estimates following a higherthan-expected reading last June.

A Central Bank survey published less than two weeks ago showed that Turkey›s annual inflation forecast deteriorated for the sixth consecutive month.

Consumer price inflation could reach 15.6 per cent by the end of the year, according to the average forecast in the monthly survey of finance industry specialists and business leaders. The estimate was 14.4 percent in June and 11.2 percent in January.

The current Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Şahap Kavcıoğlu, has kept interest rates unchanged at 19 percent since his

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“Turkey has a structural unemployment problem. Even though the economy grows, unemployment continues to be high, especially among women and youngsters. Then people accept insecure, low paid jobs and the bargaining power of labor against capital weakens.” appointment last March, even as inflation accelerated.

However, the Turkish president continues to flee from the real causes of his country›s economic crisis, according to the two largest opposition parties, the Republican People›s Party, which is the main opposition party, and the pro-Kurdish Peoples› Democratic Party.

Erdogan, who also leads the ruling Justice and Development party, usually talks of malicious plots and attacks targeting his country›s economy in every financial crisis Turkey faces.

More than a week ago, the Turkish president claimed that his country had foiled attacks on its economy aimed at «kneeling» Turkey. He linked the motives of what he described as the attacks to the failed coup attempt against his rule which took place in July of 2016.

The Turkish president told the members of his ruling party that «there are games managed through the triangle of exchange rates, inflation and interest rates.

This game has the same goal of bringing the economy into crisis as the twisted goal behind the July 15 (attempted coup).»

He also added that: “His government could take ‘supportive new steps’ in the coming period to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The Turkish President also stressed that every effort should be made to resolve the economic crisis before the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for his country in 2023.

Jiwan Soz is a researcher and journalist who focuses on Turkish affairs and minorities in the Middle East. He is also a member of Syndicat National des Journalistes (National Syndicate of Journalists [SNJ]).

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Why Do Some Employees Got Addicted to Working from Home?

As Health Risks Abate, Returning Back to Office Seems Less Appealing

By Motasem Al Felou - Jeddah Heba, a -27year-old employee at a local Saudi company, is unable to get used to office life again after she spent a whole year working from home.

A loving mom of two kids and a hardworking marketing assistant, she believes going back to the office has turned her life upside down. “After I discovered the merits of working from home, I find the office life less appealing. Home is more convenient and flexible. I

don’t have to send my little kids to the nursery, I can work and take care of my children at the same time,” said Heba, speaking to Majalla when asked whether she prefers working in the office or from home.

“I wish I could work from home for the rest of my life,” she added.

Heba is one of many employees who believe that what can be done in the office can be done at home. She is wondering why Saudi companies insist their employees go back to the premises of their companies to do things

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they used to do efficiently from home.

Others believe it is the norm to work from the office.

Working from home is just an exception due to the pandemic. The wide spread of Covid19- made it hard for people to get together in one place.

HEALTH RISKS

Working at home having a video conference with colleagues. (Getty Images)

Even though Covid19- is under control due to strict precautionary procedures and ramping up the drive of vaccinations by the Saudi health authorities, some employees believe it is safer to work from home.

Jaber, a -45year-old marketing assistant, told Majalla that every time a colleague is suspected of Covid19-, the whole staff undergoes a test. “This will never happen if we work from home,” he added.

The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) has obliged companies to re-structure their office layouts to follow the social distancing protocols.

Mohammed Ahmed, an HR specialist in his thirties, says: “Most Saudi companies asked their employees to go back to offices in the last quarter of 2020. Any employee, who gets infected with Covid19- will take a -14day leave. Most infections are the result of social gathering where precautionary procedures are not respected. Employees put on masks all day long.

HRSD does not tolerate any violation of protocols.”

“Fear of infection is a poor excuse. Every employee who follows the HRSD Office Protocol will be safe.

Companies have invested a lot of money to restructure office layouts. Employees need to get together in person,” he added.

SAVING MONEY Working from home saves money. Home-based employees do not have to use their vehicles to go to their offices every morning or order food for lunch.

Noora, a communication specialist, believes that meetings with clients can be attended on Zoom, Google M or MS Teams. There is no need to cram streets with cars just to see someone for an hour or two.

“Companies pay transportation allowances for employees to cover the cost. It is illogical to have that allowance and work from home. It is better to drop the allowance if an employee prefers to work from home,” commented Mohammed Ahmed.

Noora agrees to have the transportation allowance cut from her salary if she is allowed to work from home

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Even though Covid- 19 is under control due to strict precautionary procedures and ramping up the drive of vaccinations by the Saudi health authorities, some employees believe it is safer to work from home. permanently. “The transportation allowance is only %10 of my salary. I would sacrifice that amount if I were allowed to stay home and take care of my family during the working day!” she said.

From a purely economic point of view, working from home will negatively affect consumption because people spend less. This means businesses cannot sell their products or services as usual, which means more businesses will be out of the market. Demand is key for growth.

MIXED MODE Dania and Salman work at a Saudi local company that allows them to work at home for a couple of days every week. They pushed hard to reach a settlement with the management. Out of five working days, they are allowed to work from home on Mondays and Thursdays.

Both believe that they can deliver the same quality regardless of the place from which they are working.

Five years ago, HRSD launched the Remote Work Manual. The manual contains all of the information needed for both job seekers and employers, including the contractual agreements and the jobs targeted by the initiative. Call centers for marketing, sales, and telecommunication companies were the perfect choice of housewives to work from home.

There is no legislation for mixed-mode working. It is all a matter of agreement between employees and employers. Which option do you prefer: home or office?

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Animals in Iran: Cruelty, Torture and Disregarded Rights Apparent and Hidden Abuse Against Animals on Streets, Zoos and Circuses

By Fayrouz Ramadan Zada The Turkish Hürriyet Daily News reported some time ago that a court issued a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 liras to three defendants who were involved in the murder of 16 stray dogs by

feeding them poisoned chicken.

This happened in Turkey, the western neighbor of Iran, which brings together many religious and cultural participants. In Iran, municipalities in many major cities have been brutally killing stray dogs for years.

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The killing of a large number of rare animals, such as leopards, bears, deer and migratory birds by hunters, the stone-throwing at dogs and cats by some individuals and even hanging them in the middle of the street in some cases, creates an intractable dilemma that needs to be resolved through approaches to safeguarding and protecting the rights of animals, preserving the environment and raising awareness of social responsibility around animals.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Abuse of lions in the circus on Qeshm Island. (Supplied)

The Iranian regime and the relevant institutions do not adopt a rational and acceptable policy on animal rights. Dogs and cats do not have vaccination and promotional campaigns. The number of cases of animal abuse that have received appropriate punishment through the intervention of civil and governmental organizations do not exceed the fingers of one hand.

The Iranian legislature has not passed a law to prevent animal abuse and is opposed to raising pets at the home, placing severe obstacles and restrictions on those who own pets. People face penalties for simply taking their pets with them in their personal cars.

In recent years, many of the Friday sermons and representatives of the Guardian of Jurisprudence in Iranian provinces have criticized the fact that individuals take their pets on the streets for a walk, considering that “pet breeding is a cultural and social problem and a blind dependency on Western culture that is vulgar and harmful to public health.”

According to several accounts from Iran, the police took it upon themselves to “deal firmly” with what they considered a “dog picnic/walk,” and police officers confront citizens about “non-compliance with veils, headscarves, harassment of women on the street and vocal contamination” throughout the country. Impounding a car, imposing a fine and taking the dog to an unknown place is part of the Iranian authorities’ methods of punishing pet owners. According to published reports, domestic dogs confiscated by the police may face killing, but even with this strict and violent government policy against owners of domestic animals, the number of these “violators” has not decreased.

Under the government of Hassan Rouhani, the bill on animal welfare did not see light even after multiple incidents of animal abuse and torture. Thus, the killing of stray dogs has continued since November

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The number of cases of animal abuse that have received appropriate punishment through the intervention of civil and governmental organizations do not exceed the fingers of one hand.

2008, and we can report some of these brutal practices, such as strangling a number of stray dogs with rope by contractors in the municipality of Tabriz, killing loose dogs with acid in the city of Shiraz, and killing sterilized and vaccinated dogs in the Mehrshahr area in the city of Karaj. There are dozens of other examples of animal abuse in the country.

TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT In Iran for many years, crimes against animals, especially dogs, were not limited to killing only, but also to torture and mistreatment with the perpetrators publishing pictures and videos of their heinous practices on social media which went viral. These include videos and photos of the mistreatment of dogs in the Kalala region, in the province of Golestan, and the tragic killing of a female bear in front of the eyes of her young in Vank, Semiram, in the province of Isfahan. There was also the killing of a donkey by several people with a hammer in the same city and the incident of the torture and killing of a leopard in the west of the country. Other incidents include the killing of stray dogs and cats with liquid tar or mutilation of their bodies and cutting off the genitals of hyenas, skinning or burning wolves, painting dogs, culling lizards, setting donkeys on fire or throwing them from heights are just a few examples of cruel treatment and inhumane crimes against animals.

DISMAL CONDITIONS FOR ANIMALS IN ZOOS The dismal conditions of animals in zoos have led to widespread criticism by animal rights activists due to the absence of modern international standards, the absence of adherence to sanitary requirements and

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the use of small cages that do not comply with international standards.

Animals in zoos in Iran suffer from malnutrition, and the absence of therapeutic tools and equipment as well as veterinarians in parks around the country cause grief and regret. Zoo officials claim to supervise the animals by monitoring their physical and health status, but these parks have become a place to

For many years, crime against animals, especially dogs, were not limited to killing only, but also to torture and mistreatment with the perpetrators publishing pictures and videos of their heinous practices on social media which went viral.

earn money at the expense of physical and psychological torture of animals.

Iran imported 3 African zebras (1 male and 2 female) from the Netherlands in May 2021 and these animals long remained in poor conditions in Iranian customs warehouses resulting in the death of the male a week after it was transferred to the Safa Dasht Zoo in Tehran. A video went viral showing the main cause of his death-- the male Zebra was beaten which led to fractures in his leg and his inability to walk.

The Eram Zoo, affiliated with Khamenei’s Foundation for the Oppressed in Tehran, has caused widespread controversy many times among animalfriendly associations and animal advocates in recent years because of its fall from minimum standards.

These poor conditions in Eram Zoo led to the death of a female white tiger after she was attacked by a male tiger.

Continuing the series of suffering is “Herman,” a 9-year-old Iranian male lion who suffers from tragic conditions. This lion, who moved to Eram Zoo from British Bristol zoo in 2019, has serious health conditions. Baran, a 3-year-old orphan chimpanzee, lives in a cage that does not fulfill the health standards of the animals in this zoo.

Photos of a handcuffed brown bear at the Babolsar

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A bear in the zoo located in the city of Babolsar.

(Supplied)

Lions look miserable in the circus on Qeshm Island.

(Supplied)

City Zoo in 2014 outraged and infuriated activists.

Animals in the Babolsar City Zoo live in dismal conditions, where a camel has lost its hair and suffers from malnutrition and secures its strength from waste there. Skinny and hungry lions are forced to eat grass instead of meat, and the conditions of the geese in this garden are no different from the rest of the animals where they all eat from the muddy water.

ABUSE OF CIRCUS ANIMALS These cruel methods and ill-treatment of animals extend through zoos to circuses in cities and do not have the minimum necessary health conditions and specifications. There have been numerous stories and news spread about the methods of cruelty and mistreatment of animals in these places and one result was, for example, that a circus was banned in the city of Tabriz due to the bad conditions of the animals in it, following the demands of environmental activists and animal welfare societies in the city to close the circus.

The disastrous situation in the circus of “Persian” in the province of East Azerbaijan led to the death of 5 lions in September 2014. A bear lives in Elle Clay’s

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These cruel methods and illtreatment of animals extend through zoos to circuses in cities and do not have the minimum necessary health conditions and specifications. circus in Tabriz in dismal conditions where it lost all its teeth. Another lion lives in this circus below global standards and specifications, also without teeth as its fangs and teeth were removed with a chainsaw.

The flow of news, stories and videos about animal abuse, torture and ongoing killings across the country is sounding the alarm about the disregard for the rights of animals and the massive violations of their rights and their tragic circumstances. This may set the stage for bringing international claims against the Iranian regime and holding it accountable for all violations of the rights of animals before international organizations.

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Nabil Al-Halafawi: Veteran Actor Stirs Controversy as a Football Fanatic www.majalla.com

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From Egypt to Mecca with love Muslim Hajj Season: A Favored Time with lots of Artistic Festivities and Traditions

By Amira Noshokaty “Far away is the land of the prophet, far away and I would love to visit” – A Folk Song.

It is Muslim Hajj season and Egypt has always favored this holy time with lots of artistic festivities and traditions.

Lots of car horns were honked as they greeted the Hajjs to be on their way to Mecca. Lots of hand-made white flags would fly from the wind shields of the cars that carried the people all dressed in white. This is a typical scene from the streets of Cairo often seen on the way to the airport. As for other governorates, especially in

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Upper Egypt and in villages, Hajj has its own songs, where people would bid the person about to perform pilgrimage farewell by chanting folk hajj songs in which they are rejoicing the fact that someone is very lucky to be able to visit the land of the Prophet and Holy shrine.

“Far away is the land of the Prophet, Far away and I would love to visit, and touch with my own hand his precious window for the site would be like Kohl to my eyes.” ‫بعيدة بعيدة يا بالد الرسول‬ ‫بعيد بعيد يا طريق النبى‬ ‫بعيدة بعيدة ونفسى أزور‬ ‫وأمسح بإيدى شباكه الكريم‬ ‫وأكحل عيونى بنور البشير‬

was transferred as usual from the Citadel to AlHussien in a procession lead by Ibrahim Beik AlKabir and Ibrahim Beih, the Prince of Hajj until they reached Qaramidan area,” stated Al-Gabarty, explained the book the documentation of the procession throughout the centuries in details.

THE KISWA PROCESSION Such celebrations are deeply rooted within the collective memory of Egyptians for thousands of years. This spiritually joyous event has many historical layers to unveil. For starters the Kiswa (cover of the Holy Shrine) was hand woven by Egyptian hands and there was a grand public ceremonial procession.

A parked motorcycle under Islamic and travel murals in a street of the village of Bairat on the West Bank of Luxor, Nile Valley, Egypt (Photo

by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images).

In Upper Egypt and in villages, Hajj has its own songs, where people would bid the person about to perform pilgrimage farewell by chanting folk hajj songs.

According to the book titled ‘Kiswa of Kaba and The Arts of Hajj’, by Ibrahim Helmy, the first account of Kiswa was documented in the year 159 Hejra in the book titled Akhbar Macca (Mecca News), where the author Al-Fakehi stated that the he had seen the Kiswa made of Al-Kabati fabric of Egypt. This fabric was hand-woven by Egypt’s finest on hand made looms and have been covering the holy shrine since the time of Prophet Mohamed… down to the Ottoman reign until it stopped during the reign of Egypt’s late president Gamal Abdel Nasser,” read the book that highlighted the grand importance of the Kiswa making in Egypt to the extent that the Egyptian government established Dar- Al Kiswa that supervised and organized the process of hand weaving the Kiswa. There was even a prince allocated to oversee the Hajj trip and all its logistics.

“During the Month of Shawal, 1200 Hijra, on a Saturday, the kiswa (Holy Kabaa’s cover)

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AL-QASABGY FAMILY “My grandfather was the head of Dar Al-Kiswa in Egypt from 1923- 1926,” remembered Ahmed Shawqi Al-Qasabgy who is now the owner of the Qasab hand weaving style workshop in Khan-Al Khalili, Cairo. “He was among the 10 handicraft masters to hand weave the kiswa, I remember the rituals they used to perform before starting to sew. They would divide themselves in two groups sitting opposite to each other and perform ablution, then rinse their hands with rose water, recite the Qur’anic chapter of Fatiha and start their work that took one year to be finished,” he explained.

Al-Qasabgy’s family name is derived from their profession. The Qasab embroidery style is an Egyptian style that relies on a very strong string made of 22 threads. This qasab technique is also known as serma. Roaming between shades of Yellow and white, he showed us replicas of embroidery that covered the door of the Kaaba (the door to repentance) The qasab style is closely affiliated with the exquisite work of Egyptian calligraphers, who would draw the calligraphy and wordings of holy Quran and then they are glued with starch to the looms, then they use the perforation stage, where

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the qasabgi would mark the drawn calligraphy on the fabric with the right measurements and begin to hand weave it stitch by stitch.

CALLIGRAPHY The favored calligraphy style for kiswa embroidery is Al- Thulth Al-Tarkeeb. According to AlQasabgy, among the Egyptian masters of the art of calligraphy whose work crowned the Kiswa are Abdalla Beih Zony and Hajj Rifaai, around 1340 Hijra. And some 30 years later, Saudi calligraphers flourished such as Helmy in 1365 Hijra and Salem Bagnid in 1430 Hijra.

THE CAMEL The camel that carries the Kiswa is usually referred to as the camel of the Mahmal. It is usually chosen carefully, treated differently and well -kept and looked after until it is ready for its spiritual journey. On the Kiswa procession day, the camel is also decorated with colorful Egyptian Khayamia fabric which is usually affiliated with any ceremony in Egypt. When returning from Hajj, trip, the Camel is set free of any shores because of the graceful mission he was part of.

Attaining the title Hajj is quite prestigious in Egyptian society.

And those who performed the holy journey like to document it on their houses. This Egyptian ritual is usually done when the pilgrim arrives home safe and sound.

THE FAREWELL GATE Bab Al Wadaa, (The farewell gate) now known as Bab Al Wazir (The gate of the vizier) was the final stage where the hajj caravan would leave to cross the red sea, and off to Mecca. Many people would say their goodbyes to loved ones who were embarking on a spiritual trip that was also a very long and harsh one especially in the old days where they used to perform it on the back of camels in very primitive conditions and some people never made it back home and died on the route to or from pilgrimage. So people said their goodbyes on the last stop on the street that still carries the name The Farewell Gate till today.

HAJJ GRAFFITI Peasants standing proudly against the graffiti coloring the walls of their houses. Images showing boats, camels and trains in addition the holy

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A girl standing proudly against the graffiti coloring the wall of a house, showing Hajj greetings.

(Supplied)

Qasab hand-weaving style workshop in Khan-Al Khalili, Cairo, displaying part of kiswa (Ka’baa’s cover).

(Supplied)

shrine and the famous hajj greeting “Hajj Mabrour wa Zanb Maghfour” (A pious Hajj trip and forgiven sins) cover their building. These photos and many inspiring details of the local artists that would paint the hajj graffiti are found in the The Arabic Translation of Hajj Paintings book by Ann Parker and Avon Neal, translated

The Book highlighted the grand importance of the Kiswa making in Egypt to the extent that the Egyptian government established Dar- Al Kiswa that supervised and organized the process of hand weaving the Kiswa.

by Hassan Abd Raboh.

Attaining the title Hajj is quite prestigious in Egyptian society. And those who performed the holy journey like to document it on their houses. This Egyptian ritual is usually done when the pilgrim arrives home safe and sound. Though found in popular districts of Cairo, the hajj graffiti is at its prime in Upper Egypt and in villages of the Delta.

Cover of “The Arabic Translation of Hajj Paintings book by Ann Parker and Avon Neal, translated by Hassan Abd Raboh” about Hajj paintings and graffiti.

(Supplied)

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Why Not: A Series Sheds the Light on Children Adoption in Egypt Because Children’s Place is Home

By Salma Adham In Egypt, there are many issues that people are not familiar with yet, or they do not accept them depending on old legacies and misconceptions. One of these issues is children’s adoption, either by a family or an unmarried woman. But the issue is more complicated when it comes specifically to a woman who is not married and decides to adopt a child.

Adoption is always a controversial issue in the Arab world, and this used to happen when a family takes the decision, but what will happen if an unmarried woman thinks of that?

Women hear sentences like, “Why are you doing this to yourself? It is a difficult responsibility! You are still young and have a chance to marry! This decision will be an obstacle if someone wants to marry you” and so on!

However, a new Egyptian series challenged those beliefs by presenting the story of an unmarried woman who was attached to a young child at an orphanage and decides to adopt him.

While presenting the last episodes of the series, the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that it had received the largest number of child adoption requests in one year in the history of the ministry, and it stated that it had received more than 2,700 requests after the screening of the series.

“Leh Laa”(Why not) Season 2 stars Menna Shalaby,

Ahmed Hatem, Sara Abdelrahman, the child Selim Mostafa and directed by Maryam Abu Auf, was written by Mariam Naoum. This success is the second after Season One which starred actress Amin Khalil and discussed the issue of women’s independence.

THE PLOT AND THE UNEXPECTED ENTHUSIASM The surprise is that the series accomplished a great hit while screening its first episodes, and many Egyptian viewers interacted with the character by praising her decision in a great change in Egyptian society’s attitude towards such issues.

Several reasons push women to choose this way. Most women have the dream of being a mother. They have this attachment towards children, the care they love to introduce, the happiness they feel while seeing them growing up, the instinct they have towards them, but on the other hand, raising a child is not a paved road, it is a decision that changes your life! The heroine of “Leh Laa” series who took this unpaved road is Nada (Menna Shalaby). So how was her story?

Nada, 37, an eye doctor, lives alone in her family’s house in a classy neighborhood after her parents died, and her only brother traveled to work in the Gulf countries. From time to

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Nada (Menna Shalaby) in a scene from “leh laa” series

time she goes to her rural village, to treat patients and with the flow of events, she decides to adopt a child.

BUT WHAT MOTIVATED NADA TO THINK ABOUT ADOPTION In 1936, the British psychoanalyst John Bowlby, who is known for his pioneering work in attachment theory, was concerned with the disorders of children who grow up in care institutions and orphanages and who appear to have various emotional problems, it seemed to him that such children are unable to love because they lack the opportunity to form a strong attachment with the image of the mother in their early childhood.A girl from Nada’s village gave birth to a child without being married and for fear of her family, she left her with Nada to protect her. Nada discovered while taking care of the baby (Ahlam) that she needs to feel like a mother. She felt that there is something she is missing and it can make her happier! So why not?

“When the mother gives birth, she experiences a psychological confusion and a storm of changing feelings and hormones, between being happy because of having a baby and being afraid for him. She feels that she has not had the experience and her whole life system changes and differs,” “The same thing happens with the adoptive mother, with the addition of her facing societal reactions, especially if she is unmarried,” Dr. Heba Sobhi, a psychologist and assistant lecturer of clinical psychology at Tanta University told Majalla.

Nada decides to leave the baby girl in an orphanage, then she found out that she is missing her! “She gave a soul to

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Dr. Heba Sobhi explained to Majalla that the child should be told that he is adopted gradually.

The best scenario to do this is telling him what happened in a story that relates to his age. the house,” Nada said in a conversation with her friend in one of the episodes.

But while going through the steps, Nada chooses Yunis (Selim Mostafa), another boy in the orphanage, to adopt him.

“Ahlam made me realize that I need to be a mother, but Yunis is the one whom my heart chose,” And the challenges begin.

NOT THAT EASY! “It is a sweet and beautiful step towards social solidarity and charitable works, but things are not only emotional. The responsibility also is great and the decision is not temporary, this will live with the person the whole life,” Dr. Mai Zahran, a psychiatrist at Abbasiya Hospital in Cairo, explained to Majalla.

“The idea of adopting children comes with two facets - like all things that have advantages and also have difficulties.

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Children love us and give us emotions and also cause us challenges, given the innate connection between the original mother and her son that does not happen in the adopting cases,” she added.

“Leh Laa” also introduced different experiences of motherhood: Nada who does not have children, the mother who lost her son, the mother who likes her work more than being a mother and suffers from postpartum depression and the mother who abandons her baby. These different cases prove that we are human and our reactions to even this innate instinct are different.

“The adoptive mother is a mother like the original one, there are problems she will face and mistakes she will make. All mothers should try their best to be good for their children, but the woman who adopted a child has a double responsi-

bility,” Dr. Heba Sobhi said to Majalla.

Regarding science, adapting to the adopted child’s existence is easier than if the child is four or five years old because he has already begun to shape his personality and has different interests and behaviors.

The thing is also related to the environment the child is used to living in. The shift that happens in his daily routine, and the new people he is surrounded by make him feel strange and uncomfortable. As we see Yunis, this new world of Nada’s family and community is unknown and strange for him, the club and the new school, along with the difficulties of education, the struggle also of changing the certain rules that are represented in the orphanage.

While presenting the last episodes of the series, the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that it had received the largest number of child adoption requests in one year in the history of the ministry, and it stated that it had received more than 2,700 requests after the screening of the series.

“What must the mother do at this point is to be calm and let the change happen step by step. Not being pressured is very important for the child,” Dr. Heba Sobhi pointed out.

For example, in the series, we saw Nada didn’t force Yunis to go to the training in the new club. She did at first, but she realized quickly that this is not the right solution.

Dr. Heba explained to Majalla that the child should be told that he is adopted gradually depending on his age. The best scenario to do this is telling him what happened in a story that relates to his age. The goal here is that giving him the right to realize what is happening and match it with his expectations.

Children, when expecting something and finding out that this is not the truth, lose trust in people and this causes a horrific psychological trauma. And it is more complicated when the issue is related to their existence and identity!

Life consists of three dimensions, the past, the present and

WHAT IS TE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THE CHILD IN THIS SITUATION?

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Nada (Menna Shalaby) and the child yunis (Selim Mostafa) in a scene from “leh laa” series.

Nada (Menna Shalaby) studying for the child Yunis (Selim Mostafa) in a scene from “leh laa” series.

Yunis (Selim Mostafa) giving Nada a gift (Menna Shalaby) in her birthday.

the future. We cannot live our present without our past, and we cannot expect our future without realizing our past and present!

The same with the adopted child, he mustn’t cut off his relationship with the orphanage in which he grew up. He should be in contact with his friends there and those who raised him so that he is aware of what is happening, his past and his future.

“It is important before taking the step to read well about raising adopted children, attend workshops tackling the issue, for example, the adoption and incubation initiative in Egypt that provides psychological awareness workshops and group discussions in which previous experiences are shared,” Dr. Heba Sobhi said.

Nada’s journey with Yunis was not easy, so keep in mind that if you are not aware of the whole picture you may make

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Children, when expecting something and finding out that this is not the truth, lose trust in people and this causes a horrific psychological trauma. And it is more complicated when the issue is related to their existence and identity! it difficult for yourself and the child too!

“If the decision of adoption has already been taken, we must see that the option to return is not on the table because this will harm the child. We should introduce the full support and help,” Dr. Mai Zahran confirmed.

When the content respects minds and presents life problems people fully interact with it, and this is what happened in “Leh Laa” serious, but the addition here is that the topic is filled with emotions. These emotions are very high when talking about children because, for us, they are unable to act and need help.

Drama makes a change in societies, but which is effective and beautiful is change which comes in such social and sensitive issues that touch us. Drama, when close to people and their life, becomes different. Art messages are the strongest among all ways of influencing, and when the message is sublime, people know, discuss and become aware!

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First Muslim Woman of Arab Origin to Carry Hungarian Flag at Olympics Hungarian Fencer Aida Mohamed Joins Very Small Group of Women by Competing in Seventh Olympics

By Sarah Gamal Muslim women have won a great number of medals in the Olympics beginning in 1984 with Moroccan runner Nawal Al-Mutawakil who achieved the first gold for Arab Muslim women in the history of the Olympics. The achievements of Muslim women continued with Syrian runner Ghada Shuaa in Atlanta 1996, and the list goes on to include other champions, such as Egyptian gymnast Hedaya Malak and weightlifter Sarah Ahmed Saeed in Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, in the fencing event, Ibtihaj Muhammad, was the first Muslim-American to wear the hijab to participate in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

The -45year-old Aida Mohammed, born in Budapest to a Syrian father and Hungarian mother, has qualified to compete in foil at the Tokyo Olympics and was the first Muslim woman of Arab origin to carry the Hungarian flag at the Olympics.

Aida Mohamed has not missed the Olympics since 1996, as she participated in 6 consecutive editions, from the Atlanta to the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. She has earned one silver medal and six bronze in individual foil at world championships, and a team gold

at the 2007 European championships. But she has never managed to reach the podium at the Olympics.

Aida, who is left-handed, competes in foil, using a lighter and more flexible weapon than the rigid épée. She is currently ranked 29th in the world in her category by the World Fencing Federation.

Aida owes her credit to the physical education teacher in her primary school who believed in her talent and ability to

Ibtihaj Muhammad of the USA salutes an opponent during the Women›s at the 2017 ,14 Sabre event on June Pan-American Fencing Championships at Centre Pierre-Charbonneau in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by )Devin Manky/Getty Images

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Aida Mohamed of Hungary (L) and Inna Deriglazova of Russia (R) in action during the T32 women during the Fencing Grand Prix at the Pala Alpitour on February 2020 ,9 in Turin, Italy. (Photo

by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)

compete in the sport of fencing.

She has shown her strong personality in fencing since she was in the junior sector, where she won titles and decorated her neck with medals, achieving the European Cadet Bronze in 1991 at the age of fifteen, and the gold at the World Junior Championships in 1992.

After moving to the senior level, she won her first official medal in 1992 with the silver of the European Championship, then another silver at the 1993 World Championships. She also won the bronze in the 2006 World Fencing

Aida Mohamed has not missed the Olympics since 1996, as she participated in 6 consecutive editions, from the Atlanta to the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

Championships.

She met the Canadian Olympic fencer Laurie Shong in 1999 and six years later the couple married in 2005. They have two daughters with the first at 12 years old and the second at 7.

History of Hungary in the Olympic Games Hungary has a long history of participating in Olympic tournaments starting with the 1896 Games in Athens. Its tally of medals totals 476 with 167 gold, 144 silver and 165 bronze, and it ranks eighth in terms of medals since the inception of the Modern Olympic Games.

Hungary has the third most Olympic fencing medals of any country, behind Italy and France, and has earned more medals in fencing than in any other sport in which it competes.

In this handout image provided by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Aida Mohamed of Hungary competes in the women›s foil event at the Havana Grand Prix on March ,12 2016 in Havana, Cuba.

(Photo by Serge Timacheff/ FIE via Getty Images)

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The Next Pandemic Will Be Digital What You Need to Know About the Growing Threat of Ransomware

By Jason Aten

HIGH-VALUE TARGETS

The most recent ransomware attack shows that every business needs to protect itself.

If we›ve learned anything over the past 16 months, we have seen firsthand how quickly a pandemic can spread and take over our daily lives. After a year of wearing masks and avoiding high-risk environments, most people are ready to get back to normal, but not without the memory of how catastrophic it can be when a virus gains a foothold and--if not addressed--causes serious problems.

We know because we›ve experienced it. In the case of Covid19-, those problems included a near-complete shutdown of every major economy, overburdened health care systems, and fraught political and moral questions over how to keep people safe and beat the virus. Now, as the world gets close to the coronavirus finish line, another pandemic threatens many of the same consequences as it spreads across the globe: ransomware.

Before I go further, I want to be clear that I don›t say that lightly, and I don›t want to minimize the fact that more than 184 million people have been infected with Covid19-, and almost four million have died. I do, however, want to highlight the fact that every business owner should be concerned with the fact that ransomware attacks have increased 500 percent since the beginning of Covid19-.

Certainly, we would hope that the lessons we›ve learned during this pandemic will help us be better prepared for the next. The problem is, the next pandemic is already here. It just isn›t viral--it›s digital.

Over the holiday weekend, REvil, the Russia-linked hacking group, appeared to have targeted at least 20 managed-service providers, which provide IT and backend network security services for small and midsize businesses. That›s the same group that was credited with an attack on one of the largest meatpacking companies in the U.S. The news comes after another group shut down the Colonial pipeline earlier this year, causing disruptions across the East Coast.

Ransomware attacks involve a hacker installing software on a network that prevents the owner from accessing their devices or their data. Essentially, they kidnap your business and demand the payment of a ransom in exchange for releasing your network. For example, Swedish grocery store chain Coop had to close its 800 stores because the hack caused a shutdown of its payment processing system. In this case, the problem is complicated by the fact the attack targeted trusted software that is usually used to protect networks and computers from malicious attacks.

According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), attackers were able to export a «vulnerability in Kaseya VSA software against multiple managed service providers (MSPs) and their customers.» Put another way, the attackers were able to potentially infiltrate the source code of software used across thousands of networks. In that way, this most

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Malware Detected Warning Screen with abstract binary code 3d )digital concept. (Getty

recent incident is similar to the SolarWinds attack last year, though that attack was mostly thwarted before the hackers were able to gain complete control over the targeted networks. While it is almost impossible to eliminate all risks of ransomware, there are a few things you can do to make your network a less desirable target.

Usually, attackers are looking for high-value targets with easy-to-exploit vulnerabilities.

OFFLINE BACKUPS One of the simplest and most effective tools against ransomware is to back up your system locally on a regular basis. Those backups should be then kept offline so they can›t also be targeted by ransomware. If you have a copy of all of your data, it›ll take some work, but it›ll be a lot easier to recover than having to pay an expensive ransom, which just encourages more attacks.

RESTRICT PERMISSIONS Generally, security experts recommend that a given user only have the minimum level of privileges required for their work. In many cases, malicious software can›t take over a computer if the user account doesn›t have the ability to make changes at the root level.

KEEP SOFTWARE UP-TO-DATE While we›ve seen instances where malicious code piggy backs on legitimate software, in general, you›re safer if

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Ransomware attacks involve a hacker installing software on a network that prevents the owner from accessing their devices or data. They kidnap your business and demand the payment of a ransom in exchange for releasing your network. you keep your systems regularly updated. That means both in terms of security patches for your operating system, as well as antivirus software that can isolate and remove malware.

DON›T CLICK ON UNKNOWN LINKS Finally, never click on links in emails or text messages that aren›t from a trusted source. Hackers have gotten far more sophisticated, meaning that you have to be increasingly careful whenever you open an email, but as a general rule, if you weren›t expecting to be sent something to download and install, don›t click on the link.

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Take On Chronic Pain Where It Lives

At-home Strategies Can Help You Find Relief When It Hurts

By Kelly Bilodeau

ment, anesthesia, and psychology at Harvard Medical School. However, as people age, many of the body’s The good news is that more people are living longer. systems start to break down, which can lead to persisThe bad news is that as a result, more people are also tent discomfort. living with chronic pain, which becomes more com- Common causes of chronic pain include anything from osteoarthritis and back pain to migraine headmon with age.

“There are more people over the age of 65 today than aches and fibromyalgia. In some people who have exunder the age of 5. This is a first in our country,” says perienced prior nerve injuries or inflamed joints, the Robert Jamison, PhD, a professor in pain manage- nerve endings keep firing even when the initial prob-

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Young woman doing exercises at home while watching online training from her laptop. (Getty)

lem has resolved, says Jamison.

“It’s not a psychiatric problem. It’s true, it’s real, but it’s not a sign that something is life-threatening or progressive,” he says. But this ongoing pain is something that can significantly affect quality of life.

Chronic pain can be more complex and expensive to treat than many other conditions like diabetes and cancer, says Jamison. This is the case because people experiencing persistent pain often require a lot of doctor visits and medical tests. They may also need to work with multiple health care providers to manage their condition.

“So, for a lot of reasons it’s important to manage pain well,” Jamison says.

But to truly keep pain under control, you’ll need to not only partner with experts, but also develop strategies that you can use on your own at home. Empowering yourself to learn how to manage pain without office visits or procedures is often the most successful way to improve quality of life and decrease chronic pain.

“What people can do about it themselves can be just as important as what the doctors do,” says Jamison.

of at-home pain management strategies, but also brought forth new options. For example, there are now numerous telemedicine options, including online support groups sponsored by pain management organizations, Internet-based mental health support programs, and pain management apps.

Using a combination of strategies can help get your pain under control. Here are some you can try.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR PAIN

INCREASE MOVEMENT

Mindfulness meditation can help people manage chronic pain. Here are the basics: In a quiet and comfortable place, sit on a cushion on the floor with your legs crossed, or sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Sit up straight but not stiff.

Let your hands rest on the tops of your thighs.

Start by bringing your attention to the sensations of your body (sight, sound, taste, touch, scent).

Next, bring your awareness to your breathing as you inhale and exhale. Pay particular attention to breathing out.

When you become distracted by thoughts and feelings (an appointment you must keep or anger at someone) silently and gently label these as thoughts, let them go, and return your focus to your breath.

Start by setting aside some time to meditate for five to 10 minutes once or twice each day. You can gradually build up to 20 minutes or even an hour. For additional tips, see the Harvard Special Health Report Pain Relief Without Drugs or Surgery (www.health.harvard. edu/prds).

While it seems like someone who is in pain should rest and avoid movement, this is actually the opposite of what you should do, says Jamison. Increased activity can help relieve chronic pain, so focus on what you can to be as active as possible. Try at-home exercises, such as online yoga classes, or walking. Also test out an activity tracker. It can help you increase your movement over time and to set small achievable goals that won’t aggravate your condition.

AT-HOME OPTIONS TO MANAGE PAIN The pandemic has not only magnified the importance

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Chronic pain can be more complex and expensive to treat than many other conditions like diabetes and cancer, because people experiencing persistent pain often require a lot of doctor visits and medical tests.

TRY COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT( This psychotherapy practice can help you adopt healthier thought patterns. It’s been shown to reduce pain and disability by helping people cope with pain more effectively. CBT offers a way to change your emotional response to pain, starting with the understanding that while you may be hurting, your condition isn’t necessarily getting worse.

While therapists often guide people through CBT, you can also try an online CBT program, such as Pain­Trainer (www.painTrainer.org) or Pain Course (www.health.harvard.edu/pc), says Jamison. It can help you develop strategies to pace yourself as you

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“We did a study looking at a weekly pain group session. We monitored people who participated in either a virtual group or an in-person group and found that both groups did equally well in terms of getting better,” says Jamison. But the remote group actually performed better on one measure. “People in the remote JOIN AN ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP group were more compliant and showed up more ofThe pandemic forced many groups to move to a vir- ten,” he said. This is likely because people encounter tual format, which has proven a good option for some. fewer barriers when attending an online meeting at Online meetings can be as helpful as those conducted home than they do leaving home to attend a meeting in person. This is particularly true if they care for a in person. child or have other responsibilities. To find a meeting or other resources, visit the American Chronic Pain Association website at www.theacpa.org. move toward goals and to solve potential problems that crop up in daily life. For example, how can you manage pain when you have to leave the house to go somewhere?

There are now numerous telemedicine options, including online support groups sponsored by pain management organizations, Internet-based mental health support programs, and pain management apps. Using a combination of strategies can help get your pain under control.

USE SUPPORT APPS There are a number of apps on the market that can help people manage different aspects of chronic pain.

They can help people track certain behaviors, sleep, and mood, and whether their pain has gotten better or worse. Some apps even allow you to connect with your doctor to share information about your pain management efforts.

“It’s amazing how much you can do through an app,” says Jamison.

This article was published by Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

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)TNS(

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ook Reviews

Rise of Arab-American Left Activism A Record of Intellectual Evolution, Labor Organization, and Struggle Against Imperialism

By Mohammad Ali Salih - Washington

as the Black-American issue is about slavery and racial discrimination, the Arab-American issue Recently, the University of North Carolina Press is about both “Racism” and “Imperialism”, thus held an exhibition of the books on Arabs and Is- adding an international aspect to the debate. lam it had published, and published electronic Therefore, the book combines issues of Western copies of each book. One, that it first published colonialism, imperialism and Zionism with studfew years ago is “The Rise of the Arab Ameri- ies of individual Arab American activists, intercan Left” that was authored by Pamela Pennock, est groups and even particular court cases. a history professor at University of Michigan’s This has been an interesting aspect of Arabbranch in Dearborn, home to the largest Arab Americans’ struggle as a minority in the US, in more than one aspect: and Muslim community in the US. First, they engaged both inwards, within their These are some of the book’s chapters: - Progressive Activism after the June (1967) War own Arab community, and outwards towards countries of their origins in the Middle East and - Arab Students and the Politics of Palestine North Africa.

- Sirhan Sirhan’s Impact Second, they cooperated with other American - Enemies Within racial and ideological groups, like those of the - Labor Organizing - Arab-American Political Organizing in the Black-Americans’ civil rights, the national human rights, and the New Left.

1960’s The sub-title of the book, “Activists, Allies, and The book alternates between the “Left” and the Their Fight against Imperialism and Racism, “Radical” (but not the “Revolutionary”) in con1960s–1980s,” shows that the subject could be necting the Arab-American activists with those part of the current “Reckoning” debate in the US in the Arab countries. Meantime, “most Ameriabout past mistakes, and not only in regard to can-based leftist groups were also growing more Blacks, but, also, to other minorities. As much oriented towards Third World struggles”.

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Professor and writer Edward Said poses on February 2003 ,8 in his office at Colombia University in New York City. He died on September 2003 ,25. He was a fervent defender of the Palestinian cause.

(Photo by Jean-Christian Bourcart/Getty Images)

But, according to the book, leftist Arab-Americans were “distancing themselves from revolutionary Marxist and nationalist movements in the United States and globally.”

PROMINENT FIGURES The late 1960’s and early 1970’s saw three pioneers of the Arab-American movement revitalize the community (they had already immigrated to the US, and they got stung by the humiliating defeat of the Arab countries in their 1967 war with Israel): Eqbal Ahmed, Ibrahim Abu-Lughod and Edward Said.

Interestingly enough, Ahmed was a Muslim from Pakistan who immigrated to the US, obtained a PhD from Princeton University and became a leading activist against the US policies and interventions in Cuba, Vietnam and in the Middle East in support of Israel. No one but Edward Said, author of, among other books, “The Question of Palestine” and “Orientalism”, acknowledged the pioneering role of Ahmed. Said, also,

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The book is not confined to intellectuals; it follows ArabAmerican workers in Detroit, and details events like their 1973 strike protesting the UAW investment in bonds from Israel. acknowledged the pioneering role of Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, a fellow Palestinian who wrote “The Evolution of the Meaning of Nationalism.”

Said wrote that both men, older than him, “lightened my way”.

The three played a major role in the late 1960’s establishment of the Association of Arab American University Graduates (AAUG). Itself a pioneer organization, it preceded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the

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ook Reviews

American Arab Institute (AAI) and other current Arab organizations.

ARAB WORKERS’ STRIKE But the book, “The Rise of Arab American Left,” is not confined to intellectuals; it follows ArabAmerican workers in Detroit, and details events like their 1973 strike protesting the United Automobile Workers (UAW) investment in bonds from Israel. Nearly two thousand workers walked off the job at Chrysler’s Dodge Main assembly plant, bringing production to a halt. The one-day strike was unusual in three respects: First, it was a wildcat action, not sanctioned by the leadership of the UAW. Second, it was entirely organized by recently arrived immigrants, thought by the corporate executives to be “docile”.

Third, it was an explicit protest against the UAW’s complicity in the occupation of Palestine, and in everyday racism and exploitation.

There were about 15,000 Arabs working in the auto plants, including Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s father, Harbi Elabed, who migrated from Palestine.

Around this same time, the Black Power movement was sweeping the auto factories, establishing the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement

The book alternates between the “Left” and the “Radical” in connecting the Arab-American activists with those in the Arab countries. Meanwhile, “most American-based leftist groups were also growing more oriented towards Third World struggles”.

(DRUM), which led a series of wildcat strikes.

Also in 1973, Dearborn’s Arab community marched to protest the police murder of Nagi Daifullah, a Yemeni immigrant who was an organizer with César Chávez’s United Farm Workers (UFW).

In the same year, about 3,000 Arab-Americans marched in Dearborn demanding the liquidation of UAW’s Israeli bonds, and holding signs reading “Stop US-Israeli Terror Against Arab People››; “Dispose of the Bonds››; and “Jewish People Yes, Zionism No”. But the UAW’s leaders dismissed the protest as a communist conspiracy.

FURTHER ACTIVISM AGAINST ISRAEL The book details these and other events, well into the 21st century, like the 2004 New York City Labor Against the War, and Labor for Palestine.

The first was in reference to the US-led invasion

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Book Cover

Automotive workers participating in a strike at Lordstown, Ohio in 1974. (Photo Credit: Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

of Iraq, and the latter to support Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS), a Palestinian-led global movement against Israel’s occupation of Arab lands.

In 2014, the 14,000-member Detroit UAW endorsed BDS, but the following year, the UAW’s International Executive Board nullified the decision.

The book also, traces activities by the Organization of Arab Students (OAS) in the US, which was opposed – and infiltrated – by the Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL). But that didn’t stop the OAS from cooperating, not only with student organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, but also with Third World liberation organizations on university campuses.

CONDEMNING TERRORISM The book mentions Palestinian-American Sirhan Sirhan, who killed presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in1968, and presented a dilemma for Arab-American activists, who denounced his “lone, isolated act of political violence”, and

The three pioneers of the ArabAmerican movement during late 1960’s and early 1970’s had already immigrated to the US, and got stung by the humiliating defeat of the Arab countries in their 1967 war with Israel. described him as “a disturbed individual, not a martyr”, but attempted to confront American ignorance of the question of Palestine.

The dilemma continued to cover the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, and the American-led Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), as the Arab Americans continued to condemn terrorism (and careful not to raise any suspicion), but, at the same time, continued to try to educate the Americans about the big picture.

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Nabil Al-Halafawi: Veteran Actor Stirs Controversy as a Football Fanatic

By Majalla Illustration by Ali Mandalawi Veteran actor Nabil Al-Halfawi tops the most mentioned Egyptian actors on Twitter, as he is known for his striking political and social tweets.

Usually stirring controversy, Al-Halfawi is keen on tweeting on public incidents, his sports affiliation, and political views. Notably, he is a staunch fan of Al-Ahly Egyptian football team, which usually antagonizes fans of other Egyptian teams.

Recently, Nabil Al-Halfawi caused controversy over his latest tweet in which he wrote, “… After some time, great (Egyptian) actors such as Mahmoud Morsi, Ahmed Zaki, or (Yahya) Al-Fakharani became beyond evaluation… Same applies to Mosimane, ElShenawy, or Afsha (Al-Ahly’s coach, goalkeeper, and midfielder respectively)”. He was severely criticized for comparing the footballers to great Egyptian actors with long career.

Al-Halfawi’s latest work is the last Ramadan series “Cairo Kabul”, in which a number of talented artists participated. His role of a wise-man reflecting on life stormed Arab social media through memes in which people cited his views and quotes.

Nabil Muhammad Al-Halfawi, was born

on April 22, 1947 in the Al-Sayeda Zainab neighborhood in which he lived and grew up.

The beginning of the problems that Nabil faced in his youth was choosing his higher studies. He was a lover of engineering and actually enrolled in an Engineering college, but his family forced him out of the faculty of Engineering, because his uncles owned pharmaceutical companies and needed a pharmacist. He did not like to study in the faculty of Pharmacy, but he worked in the companies of his uncles until the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized them. As result he left the field altogether and joined the Faculty of Commerce and graduated from the Department of Business Administration in 1966.

Nabil was an outstanding student. He participated in theatrical university competitions and proved his worth. Once he obtained his bachelor’s degree, he joined the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts.

Nabil Al-Halafawi – as an actor - is a quiet person who loves to hide from the limelight, his features are characterized by complete seriousness, and to the same degree his behavior is distinguished, whether in photographing his works or arranging his affairs in his private life, but these features are not commensurate with the field in which he decided to involve himself.

Al-Halfawi began his artistic life in 1970s by participating in several works, most notably

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the play “Antonio and Cleopatra” and the series “The Crime”.

In the 1980s, he rose to fame after he acted in famous films such as “Poor People Do Not Enter Heaven,” “A Teacher’s Assassination,” “Agent No. 13.” He entered the dramatic field more confidently, starting in the 1990s, with his participation in the second and third parts of “Raafat Al-Hagan”, then the series “Al-Zeiny Barakat”, “Magra El-Oyoun Wall” and “Zizinia”. Most prominently, he starred in the movie of “The Road to Eilat”, which narrates the story of a group of Egyptian frogmen who targeted and destroyed two Israeli vessels in the port of Eilat during the War of Attrition in 1969.

More of his roles included: “Afreet li kol mowaten” (A Ghost for Every Citizen), “Daeret al tabasheer al kookazeya” (Caucasus Circle) and some of his series were “Domoo Sahebat Al Galaalaa” (Tears of Her Majesty), “Hekayet Madina” (A Tale of A City), and “Al Hob wa Ashyaa Okhra” (Love and Other Things) He received many awards including; The Best Actor Award from the Egyptian Society of Cinematography for his role in the series “Banat Zeinab” (Zeinab’s Daughters), and the Best Actor Award from the Alexandria International Film Festival for his role in the series “My Blood, My Tears and My Smile.”

o

pinion

Religious Discourse: Maturity

Gamal Abdul-Mabud

It is not surprising that Europeans copied Muslims’ philosophy and research methodologies in order to emerge from the European Dark Ages which were marked by decline«

After two centuries of writing and documentation, and during the peak years of a powerful Islamic nation, Islamic ideology and consequently religious discourse were in line with its contemporary conditions. Thus, it is not surprising that Europeans copied Muslims’ philosophy and research methodologies in order to emerge from the European Dark Ages which were marked by decline.

All that while Islamic thought was free, civilized, and productive in the field of knowledge, while the Islamic nation extended from China in the east to Andalusia in the west, with Cordoba at the center of knowledge and Ibn Rushd’s (Averroes) teachings introducing advancement to Europe.

If any positive impact of the Crusades is to be mentioned, it would be for the Europeans who carried back home Islamic ideas, methodologies and philosophy during the Crusades from 1096 to1291. Modernized thought was produced in European circles, and pushed them to the empirical school of thought, as an evident result of philosophies introduced by Ibn Al-Haytham, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Al-Biruni, followed by Roger Bacon’s mathematical theories (d. 1294). The line would take an upward direction, and Gutenberg’s printer would speed up circulation of all these ideas.

Then, Martin Luther would emerge to change the church’s route, along with Copernicus, and later Galileo to shift the idea of earth being at the center of the universe and develop western thought. Hence, a religious, social and political revolution would erupt and result in a transformation of religious discourse. A political modernization would follow to establish vital issues such as freedoms, legislations, state’s authority and religious tolerance.

Separation between the state’s authorities and religious belief was initiated by philosopher John Lock who introduced the social contract. Public coercion faded in the favor of legislature’s power which became the basis. That coercion was a result of the executive political power, which didn’t own the right to oppress people even if it used religious discourse. Therefore, the western mentality started to develop, fueled by Islamic ideas and philosophy when Muslims were of great achievements.

As Islamic thought witnessed setbacks and decline, some reformists emerged with intellectual, but not religious, efforts. Some of them blindly followed the West, their justifications were hollow attempts that reflected the defeated admiring their defeater. Another team found nothing wrong to take what suited us from the Western thought, as it was originally our product, while

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a third team stood confused, burdened with guilt due to the religious discourse shift to an excessively authoritative discourse.

At times of decline, darkness advocates who adopted extreme ideologies came out to save face and take advantage. There were some opportunists who managed to manipulate religion for political ends. They failed to ask themselves, if their goal was to rule, why wouldn’t they follow legitimate or even illegitimate political means, instead of imposing religious discourse on their agenda, not to mention their redaction of hadith and historical incidents to back their positions.

Amid that, religious discourse moved away from maturity, and kept frozen under the guardianship of AlAzhar which became affiliated with the government, and followed firm Egyptian bureaucracy. With the exception of honorable sheikhs such as Muhammad Abduh, Shaltut and Tantawy, there was not any new ideology that spoke to the youth to remove the authoritative barrier of human religious discourse and to underscore the intellectual values without promoting the Mu’tazila school of thought, which could be rightly described as the knights of intellect and justice. But for their transgression and antagonizing al-Ma’mun against Imams of the nation, their school would have been of brilliant future.

Unfortunately, this prevailed during the culmination of Islamic intellectual maturity. Mu’tazila followers turned against their principles and used oppression to promote their school, until it declined. Nevertheless, it remained a vivid example of combining between religious text and intellect in Islamic Fiqh, which we hope our contemporary scholars do in order to keep the human religious thought in line with Muslims’ aspirations. Islam has not come to warn people with all severe punishments, but to complete noble virtues, that is to say the highest level of human development and moral evolution.

In this regard, the means used is education. Most Qur’anic ayahs educate humans to cooperate with each other, and inform that the original mission is to populate earth. It doesn’t aim to make peoples’ lives harder in the world and in the hereafter, which would have made people depressed and gloomy at best, or led them to atheism or infidelity at worst.

Hence, we demand that religious discourse be more realistic and mature.

To be continued.. * Gamal Abdul-Mabud is an Egyptian writer and researcher in the history of religions and philosophy of

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