The crossroads of Egypt: «No estés triste, mom, si muero joven»
I landed in Cairo to 8 in the morning a month and a half ago. At 10, After a quick shower, I was in an old Corolla with Abu Maamar, a jihadist who was silent. I was playing with a bracelet, compulsively, wondering whether to speak or not. Abu stared at my hands and automatically stopped making noise.
He began to show me bus stops and traffic signals that could see the face stickers Morsi and graffiti hand making the gesture of the Muslim Brotherhood.
-Where we go?- asked.
-A Rabá- answered.
I knew exactly where I had. Fayez, My companion battles, Egyptian, surgeon and activist, It carries a year patiently explaining what happens, why it happens and the possible consequences, and tries (sometimes unsuccessfully) be as objective as possible. At that time he was in the back of the car, biting his tongue. I remembered his joy the day that overthrew Morsi and knew it was really a great effort for him to accompany me in my adventure. Initially I had planned to go alone, but Fayez was blunt: It is written in the Qur'an, If you ride in the car with a jihadist and there is a third person, the third party will Satan. I hate that kind of statement and I was tempted to discuss the presence of cars in the Qur'an, but it had many more options so I accepted.
«Está escrito en El Corán, If you ride in the car with a jihadist and there is a third person, esa tercera persona será Satán»
Abu stopped the car at the entrance Raba. A tank surrounded by soldiers guarding the entrance. Before the drive down I started talking: "One night a group of men from the Muslim Brotherhood, among whom was my father, They were protesting. The military arrested them and put them in a van. They said they tried to escape, so they attacked with tear gas and 37 of them they drowned. The hope here, Try to talk to people of Raba ". I did not ask anything option.
We got off the car and got to loiter, but it was frustrating because nobody wanted to talk, so we decided to go to Tahrir. That evening had announced protests. The famous square was surrounded by tanks prohibiting the passage to the Muslim Brotherhood. In the center is crowded groups of people, to me with the camera, They began to approach to discuss the situation. I took a lot to reply to my questions. They all spoke at once and everyone wanted to be recorded.
In Tahrir it costs me a lot to reply to my questions. They all spoke at once and everyone wanted to be recorded
A woman was telling me that Morsi had been selling them oil Gaza, and now that oil did not reach Palestine, They took more than a month with no more than four hours of electricity a day and this was proof of the crime the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. All generally hailed Al Sisi. The reasons they gave me were traced each other, and and he had previously heard in the Coptic Hospital Nairobi: "With no rights Morsi, neither bread nor freedom. Now there is bread and rights. "They were talking about the wonderful new Constitution full rights and reforms superdemocráticas. They talked about how happy they were that the Muslim Brotherhood were getting their comeuppance. Abu beside me, quiet, cloaking. Fayez translated me as quickly as possible. Suddenly, between the people, I saw a blond man with blue eyes, about sixty misled, I am watching me.
I approached him and greeted me: Good morning, young lady- I said in Italian.
-Good night- I replied in English, He is pointing to the sky getting dark.
He told me he was Italian and had half of his life living in Egypt. Around us, people laughed at him and told me I was crazy and spent the afternoon wandering around Tahrir.
-Les going to fuck everyone- He defended himself- They are stupid dazzled by the Constitution but do not know they are signing his death sentence. Whoever goes against the military is a dead man, and they themselves are giving that power to Al Sisi.
Tanks surrounded us. Suddenly I felt awful
I spent an hour talking to people, but I heard nothing special. Memory seemed learned speeches and politically correct. Tanks surrounded us. Suddenly I felt awful. I left there and accompanied by Fayez Abu and we got into the car. But we did not move, we had much to talk.
-You know you have a law against demonstrations?- Abu told me- if you want to complain you have to go to the police to ask for a permit, What freedom is this? If you are caught without that permission they will destroy. You know what they did to some girls who were part of the group "Seis de Abril" and arrested a week ago for protesting against the military? They took the, the tortured and badly wounded they left on the desert road.
-We're all fucked up- Fayez said- but either way the situation will be better than the Muslim Brotherhood.
«No estés triste, mom, If I die young. Mañana incitaré a los habitantes de las tumbas y habrá una revolución bajo la tierra», It was read in a painted graffiti on a wall. I understood that Egypt was plunged into a spiral that seemed endless: violence begets violence.
We headed to the home of a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood. She greeted with a fine education, but it made me leave the camera at the entrance
Abu pulled by car and headed to the home of a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood called A. It. She greeted with a fine education, but it made me leave the camera at the entrance. His wife, whitest and huge woman, We were served tea with a smile.
-What do you want to know?- he asked me with kindness.
-What happened to you?- I went to the point- Is it true that you are finished? Fayez put his hand on my knee, surprised at the directness of my question.
-What do you think?- I answered Galician.
-yes- caused the.
At that time Fayez gave me his cell phone and said "Anna is calling". Anna is an imaginary psychiatric patient used as an excuse to disappear from a meeting or cut a conversation.
-Tell Anna to sleep for a while, it will be fine- I smiled. I knew this would bring me problems, but it was in a wonderful situation and did not want to ruin everything. Tomé has a sorbate.
-You're very confident- said to. It- I think any journalist poison.
I felt a twinge in the stomach, but I relieved with a forced laugh.
-We are not finished. We are prepared- he smiled.
-How?- asked.
-You will see, perhaps the how is not important, the key is why. We do not mind dying and we have a big enough reason to fight: make a pure Islamic country Egypt. Is not it strange that no members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the streets? What do you think happened? Is the Army has eaten? Of course not, We are in the Army. military there are Muslim Brotherhood. Many. There are senior. There are very powerful people. Have you heard of Trojan Horse?
I nodded.
-Well, that, It is a matter of time and wisdom. And blood. Because we will kill, blood and reach the Nile. And purify the country. Do you want to stay for dinner?
-Of course- I accepted the invitation.
«Vamos a matar, blood and reach the Nile. Y purificaremos el país»
Fayez looked at me funny, He had happened to her initial anger and enjoyed watching me enjoy. Dinner was fun, on my plate there was more food than I can eat in a week. She gave me her hand with a whole chicken. There were no knives.
-Are you going to come to Egypt to vote for the Constitution?- he asked. It. a Fayez.
-Of course- He said this- What are you going to vote?
A. It. He grabbed the chicken with his hands and broke it in two with an amazing facility. I tried to imitate him, but it was impossible. Fayez helped me tearing a leg and giving it to me. I felt a comic Asterix and Obelix.
-Resounding no.
Fayez nodded.
-What would you vote for you if you could vote?- I asked.
-I would vote no- challenged. I think that your posture is terrible, and to kill sucks- Fayez hit my knee again, and I brushed by hand before proceeding- The military, however, They have hidden amidst the beautiful words of the Constitution, superdemocráticos rights and fair laws. But you do the same thing: endangering the life and the freedom.
-Egypt is lost- sentenced.
A. It. She made me promise not to publish his name. «Sabes que si mato, voy directo al cielo», I winked
When we parted, the woman embraced me fondly, already. It. She made me promise not to publish his name.
You know that if you kill, I go straight to heaven- I winked.
-Quiet- caused the- You have not told me anything you do not know.
-¿Oh no?- He took the bait- I advise that if you want to tell something interesting you go through Egypt the 25 Jan..
-I also know that- the challenged.
-You know nothing- and he gave me a sincere smile.
Diplomacy lies
A month later I went to dinner with Egyptian diplomats. I felt at a masked ball, they all played a role. It started temperate: friendly talks on countries, languages and customs. But we know that food connects us with the viscera and the earth, and between mouthfuls of delicious dishes of the country they were poking ideologies.
H., diplomat nice big hands and face, I had always answered my questions with half-smiles and ambiguities well-built. But we were on the last night of the year and to start in January, a crucial month for Egypt: Today and tomorrow will vote for or against the Constitution and 25 January is the third anniversary of the revolution.
There was unanimity of opinion: Muslim Brotherhood, that a few days ago it has become regarded as terrorist group, They deserve the brutality with which they are being treated by the military. And Al Sisi, of course he is a hero. I knew that many of those who were defending the Constitution at that table, would not vote in favor. One of the false defenders of the military spoke of blood left to shed, and he tried to explain naturally.
«Hablar de paz es pueril, la única forma de solucionar el problema de Egipto es matando»
Look María, talk about peace is puerile, the only way to solve the problem of Egypt is killing. And with the military blood to be shed will be very low compared to that has been spilled with the Muslim Brotherhood.
-When so radically demonizes a group is always good to doubt- challenged- and I think the problem, as always, lies in the powerful, not in the village that is part of them.
There was silence. Someone tried to change the subject, but I clung to my chance to put your finger on it.
-For example- Continue- what happened last August in the mezquita Raba'a Al-Adaweya, when a 500 people were killed in protests pro-Morsi ...
-That's a lie!- Fayez cut me- Muslim Brotherhood supporters had kidnapped Al Sisi inside the mosque that were torturing. Addition, the military did not burn the mosque, did the Brothers themselves Muslims to destroy all documents had hidden there. It was not an attack. It was a defense.
She was ready to protest passionately and make an apology of peace and the defense of the innocent victims, when I remembered one of the books Kurt Vonnegut, entitled "Slaughterhouse Five". It is a book studded jewelry, but I turn to one of them especially when I'm living in violent environments. The protagonist is writing a book anti-war and it says a film producer. This replied: "Why do not you write a book anti-glacier instead?”, and explains later: "What I meant is that there would always be wars and that would be as difficult to remove as are the glaciers".
I was at a table of men who ate the same hands that have signed documents involving deaths
I was sitting at a table of men (women were serving food), who treated me with the respect, who listened to me, they smiled at each other and "my friend" were called. Men who ate the same hands that have signed documents involving deaths. Warriors. The atmosphere was a lie. They were lying.
I took a year trying to form an opinion about it. I have two months writing and erasing, and rewriting trying not to censor myself. But I'm dizzy and confused. I understand everything and yet not understand anything. All I've taken clear, talking to both sides, It is to believe that blood is needed. And I have to learn to live a life in which every day, In each meal, Morsi and Al Sisi sit at my table and slowly bleed.
I understand everything and yet not understand anything. All I've taken clear, talking to both sides, It is to believe that blood is needed
Today the Egyptians will go to vote, animated by Al Sisi, who warns that if citizens do not vote "shamed the Army". Around 155.000 military and a 100.000 agents of the Security Forces ensure a peaceful day. The results of Egyptian expatriates who voted vary between different embassies 98-99 % for yes to the Constitution and does not seem that the result will surprise. Hopefully no mistake Egypt.
Comments (4)
PULL
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Bella exposure and so true! Egypt is certainly bleeding. Hopefully the miracle. Thanks!
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"No estés triste, mom, If I die young"
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[…] "No estés triste, mom, If I die young" […]
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MDV
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Very good article! And we missed you!
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home
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The article was not read anywhere. Mary, congratulations. Brave, clear, without.
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