Transparent Faces

I took these photographs last weekend. While the Wall remains on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, passer-bys are now able to walk up to the wall (or close to it at least, young revolutionaries still stand guard in huddles). Previously there had been a no-go zone complete with barbed-wire and looted Cairo police traffic-barriers and enforced by young revolutionaries. This was the first time I had walked the length of Mohamed Mahmoud Street since the outbreak of the recent clashes. I am quite familiar with the street-- it is the location of the AUC bus-stop-- and was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the street art remained untouched; I wasn't sure if I would find the walls blackened from ash.

The mural depicts those living martyrs who lost their eyes during the recent clashes. All of the faces in the mural were transparent-- their skin was the wall itself. Are the living martyrs a reflection of the street or the realization of it?

One living martyr's face was partially composed of a campaign poster.

Today concluded the second day of the run-off polls in the first round of voting for the Maglis Al Sha'ab (there are three rounds of polls for the lower house of parliament, there will be an additional three round of polls for the upper house early next year). Run-off polls were only in those districts in which an individual candidate (whether in the professional or worker/ farmer category) didn't achieve more than 50% of the vote in the initial poll- thus there were only either two or four candidates on the ballot. There were no run-off polls for the party/alliance-lists.

Voter turn-out is visibly remarkably lower than in last week's election- there is not as much excitement as there was a week ago- it appears the novelty has already worn off for some. There were hardly any lines and also hardly any Muslim Brotherhood volunteers- although the latter perhaps because they had been so helpful before.

http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt-elections-2011/lower-voter-turnout-in-second-day-of-elections-run-offs-dp3.html

I had one friend who went to the poll and "voted," but in reality scratched his ballot. Unlike his Aunt, he didn't vote because of the alleged 500 pound (100 US dollar) fine- He voted to be a part of the process, yet scratched because he didn't like his options (The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom & Justice Party or the Salafi Nour Party).

Whoever wins and whenever they actually take their seat (Parliament supposedly opens in March 2012), I sincerely hope they don't forget about these martyrs and their families. They are the veterans of a war fought too close to home.

Eyes

Can this be called street art? Or is it vandalism.

This is one of four lions on the Qasr Al-Aini bridge connecting El Gezira (an island in the middle of the nile) and downtown.

This is a statue of Shiek Omar Makaram in front of the Omar Makram mosque in Midan Tahrir.

Demonstrators marched this Friday to Midan Tahrir in order to honor the Marytrs of the recent clashes. Some wore patches over their eyes in solidarity with those who lost their eyes from rubber bullets in the recent clashes.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/530191

The loss of eyes was particularly noteworthy in the recent clashes. Ahmed Harara is a lauded figure: he lost one eye during the 25 January Revolution and his second eye during the recent clashes.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/11/28/179668.html

Below is a stencil of Ahmed Harara taken in front of the Maglis Al Sha'ab earlier this week.

In place of his right eye, 19 November

in place of his left eye, 25 January

Naked

Above are two stencils, found next to each other across the street from the sit-in at the Maglis Al-Sha'ab. On the left is Aliaa Magda Elmahdy and on the right is Samira Ibrahim.

The words in this specific stencil are illegible, they were actively scratched out. The words, however, are legible in other stencils. The following translation is a result of viewing other stencils.

Translation (in between portrait of Elmahdy):

"Samira Ibrahim: 25 years-old, she had been naked by force and checked for her virginity in front of officers and soldiers in the army and she refused not to revenge her dignity and she filed a lawsuit in the Egyptian court. There was no interest... There was no audience...There was no media...There was no life for the killers.

Aliaa Elmahdy: 20 years-old, she stripped and exposed her body clearly by her own wanting. By the hurried manner of the public and the media [to learn about her] and around one million viewed her picture and not less than 50 articles about her and a lot of TV shows."

Translation (below portrait of Ibrahim):

"Tribute and homage to cherish and support For Samira Ibrahim, daughter of Upper Egypt."

Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, a former AUC student, posted a nude photograph of herself on her blog. The picture gained wide-spread notoriety in mid-November about a month after its posting when activist Ahmed Awadalla twitted about it. While Awadalla praised the picture, in general, there was a conservative backlash against it.

Many feared that liberal political parties would be affected in the parlimentary polls.

After rumors circulated, the April 6th movement issued an official statement that Elmahdy was not a member.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/26641/Egypt/Politics-/Nude-photo-blogger-is-not-a-member-of-our-group-Ap.aspx

Legal action has since been taken against Elmahdy for "trying to spread her obscene ideology through nude photos," and "violating morals, inciting indecency and insulting Islam" according to the report filed in court. Furthermore the prosecution believes that Elmahdy should be tried according to Islamic law because Islamic law is the source of the (1971) constitution. The penalty under Islamic law is death.

http://bikyamasr.com/48732/legal-action-against-egypt-nude-activist/

Elmahdy discussed her views with CNN earlier this month.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/19/world/meast/nude-blogger-aliaa-magda-elmahdy/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8

Samira Ibrahim sued the military after being forced by the military to take a virginity test last March. The verdict in the case was expected on Tuesday, but delayed until 27 December. Ibrahim was one of 17 women forced to take a virginity tests after being detained on 9 March when the military attempted to clear Midan Tahrir. SCAF admitted that the virginity tests occurred, but argued that they were a necessary defense should any of the detained women claim that they were raped.

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/human-a-civil-rights/virginity-tests-case-against-military-adjourned-to-dec-27.html

While many Egyptians do not agree with Elmahdy's actions, it is my hope that they nevertheless treat her-- as they should any individual-- with respect, just as Ibrahim should have been. Elmahdy was allegedly beaten upon entering Midan Tahrir last week.

http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/256889/20111128/aliaa-magda-elmahdy-nude-blogger-beaten-tahrir.htm

No matter what an individuals point of view is-- or how much you disagree with them-- I don't believe such behavior is acceptable.

NOTE: All translations on this blog were conducted by me and an Egyptian friend. While we translated to the best of our ability combining our native English and Arabic skills, these translations are not a professional standardized translation of the street art that is available on the internet. We are, however, confident in all translations that we post on this blog.

Know thy Enemy

Translation: "Know thy enemy: Hamdi Badeen"

This stencil has begun appearing in downtown Cairo in the last few days, some renditions of it include the words "WANTED." Was the creator of this stencil inspired by the WANTED El Shenawy street art? El Shenawy was, after all, captured.

Hamdi Badeen is the chief of the military police (el shorta el askarya). The military police is in charge of policing the military. After the Revolution and the establishment of SCAF (a military junta as opposed to a civilian transitional council), their jurisdiction expanded to include civilians. The military police now have the power to arrest both police and civilians, hence civilians are now being tried in military courts.

Hamdi Badeen recently said that the army hasn't entered Midan Tahrir since they withdrew in September (the day before the massive 9 September demonstration; since the beginning of Ramadan they had controlled the Midan and allowed no protests). Widely circulated photographs and videos, however, prove otherwise.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/27476/Egypt/Politics-/Military-police-havent-entered-Tahrir-Square-since.aspx

Many activists called for Hamdi Badeen's trial after the Maspero clashes.

http://thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/maspero-clashes-a-conspiracy-by-scaf-say-political-powers-witnesses.html

WANTED

UPDATE 30 November 2011:

El Shenawy turned himself into the Ministry of Interior.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/28165/Egypt/Politics-/Sniper-of-the-eyes-surrenders-to-authorities-.aspx

UPDATE, 27 November 2011:

El Shenawy was not captured, but he will be summoned for questioning within the next 72 hours.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/28051/Egypt/Politics-/Security-source-denies-notorious-CSF-officer-at-la.aspx

UPDATE, 26 November 2011: CAPTURED

http://bikyamasr.com/49562/egypt-officer-who-was-cheered-for-shooting-protesters-eye-is-captured/

Translation:

WANTED

Search with the People

Two-Star Officer*: Mahmoud Sobhy El Shenawy

Officer in the Central Security Forces, accused of targeting eyes

Tens from the revolutionaries, the heroes in Tahrir.

Here is video of El Shenawy shooting protesters. This video was widely circulated on the internet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jzCqi_d0Yk

Leaflets were distributed around Midan Tahrir with a still-photo from the above video, stating that there's a 5,000 Egyptian pound reward for anyone who finds El Shenawy.

https://twitter.com/#!/SmithSofia/status/138870183547764736

*When an officer graduates from a 4 year college he automatically enters the CSF with 1 star. El Shenawy graduated college in 2009

Above are photos of the stencils used to produce the street art. The atmosphere in Midan Tahrir was very festive on Thursday--there were few ambulances and an abundance of families.

The violence near Midan Tahrir earlier in the week made it difficult for street artists to work. While the words down with SCAF were certainly abundant around Midan Tahrir, a certain degree of stability is necessary in order to create more detailed street art-- if you're worried about running from tear gas canisters, it's kind of hard to concentrate on making sure a stencil is straight.

Bashar El Assad

Translation: "King of the forest rides a tank."

The word forest (al-ghaba) is partially painted over.

This stencil of Bashar El Assad with a Hitler mustache (& the accompanying words) is by the street artist El Teneen. It began appearing in Cairo in August.

Translation: "The League of Sheikha Mozah"

These words are located on the gate of the Arab League (Gam'at El Duwal El Arabya) headquarters. There are two gates and both gates have the same words spray-painted on them.

Sheikha Mozah is the wife of the Qatari Emir. She was honored by the Health and Humanitarian Aid Department of the Arab League this October.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/162272-arab-league-body-to-honour-sheikha-moza.html

I am not sure when this street art was created or by whom and am thus not sure if there is a connection between the Sheikha Mozah and El Assad street art. I initially assumed that anything written on the Arab League gates was from the Syrian activists demonstrating outside and, considering how long the Syrian activists have been there, think that there is some validity to that assumption. Perhaps the Syrian activists renamed the League after Sheikha Mozah in order to shame it for concentrating on award ceremonies, instead of addressing the more pressing issue of the escalating brutality of Bashar El Assad and his regime in Syria.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the ongoing occupation of Midan Tahrir, Syrians continue to demonstrate outside the Arab League headquarters, which is located just off the Midan.

Today Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan called for Assad to step down. In his speech to the Turkish parliament, Erdogan said "Quit power before more blood is shed... for the peace of your people, your region and your country."

As I passed the building, I could see people snapping photos from the top floor balcony at the demonstrations in Midan Tahrir. Given the recent events in Cairo, it seems as though Erdogan's words wouldn't be out of place if directed at Egypt's SCAF.

Last week Jordan's King Abdullah called for Assad to step down, he was the first Arab leader to do so.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/2/8/27286/World/Region/Turkish-PM-calls-on-coward-Assad-to-quit.aspx

Bashar El Assad's regime did not comply with the Arab League's deadline for halting its violent crackdown.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15810579

Mariam

I first saw this stencil when I arrived in August, this face was EVERYWHERE then and is still everywhere. Turn a corner, and you will most likely see her face. I took this particular picture in downtown where the stencil is the most abundant, it is nevertheless still found in other parts of Cairo (most notably Zamalek). The stencil itself is quite small, probably 6'' x 8''.

The stencil is of the independent Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress Mariam Saleh. Her father is the Saleh Saad,* a famous play-write and director. She was also mentored by Sheikh Imam, a famous Egyptian singer and composer.

Mariam sings in the film Ain Shams (Eye of the Sun), an independent film about Egypt and produced in Egypt. The film opened in Egypt 2 years after it's initial opening in Morocco because it didn't receive permission from the Egyptian authorities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYqjW7C6dnY&feature=related

The first time I explored the Townhouse Gallery in August, I wandered into the neighboring Rawabet Theater and found a group rehearsing for the then-upcoming play "Lessons in Revolting" -- a play I later saw and was tremendously impressed by. I was immediately drawn to Mariam, she has a very startling face.

I asked if the stencil was of her. She replied that a friend had made it of her. After some research, I discovered that the stencil first appeared before her August (Ramadan) performance at El Geneina, an open air theater in Al Azhar park. The stencil was a kind of awareness campaign.

http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/music/maryam-maryam-quite-contrary.html

Some candidates have used street art in their campaigns-- painting their names on the sides of buildings instead of putting up posters-- but I've never seen a candidate paint his own face on a wall. The faces of martyrs or imprisoned bloggers are common in Cairo, but in those cases, the person whose face is the subject of the street art was not the street artist and didn't give consent to the street artist. Is it conceded to use your own face in street art or give consent to someone else to do so?

Furthermore is it appropriate for an individual to use street art as a form of free publicity? There are, of course, posters plastered to the walls of Cairo advertising the latest film festival, but those are posters-- and posters advertising a specific event-- not an open-ended piece of street art publicizing an individual.

A candidate writing his name on the wall is running for public office and there is a specific date for the election, but a girl painting her face on the wall to increase her profile? Is that ethical?

NOTE: Mariam Saleh's last name "Saleh" is her father's first name. In Arab culture, a family doesn't have one surname. Children take the first name of their father and that becomes their last name. Each person has a long list of names (maybe 10) attached to his own which include all of the male names in their direct family line (their father, his father [their grandfather], his father [their great-grandfather], ect...).

A wife does not take her husband's last name, rather she becomes known as Mrs."husband's first name."

Alaa Abdel Fattah

UPDATE, 28 November 2011:

Alaa Abdel Fattah's has been transferred to a civilian court and his detention has been extended by 15 days.

http://bikyamasr.com/49824/detention-of-egyptian-blogger-alaa-abdel-fattah-extended-by-civilian-court/

Above are several portraits of Alaa Abdel Fattah in various colors located on a wall of the AUC downtown campus.

Fattah is a prominent political activist. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail after refusing to report to a military prosecution to be questioned about the Maspero events. He does not believe that civilians should be subject to military courts and thus refused to be interrogated by the military. He also does not believe that the military should be investigating the Maspero events because it was the military who allegedly attacked peaceful protesters.

Fattah was jailed for 45 days in 2006 after participating in a peaceful protest. At the time his arrest garnered international attention because it was interpreted as a crackdown on bloggers by the Mubarak regime.

Fattah comes from a family of notable political activists. Fattah and his wife, Manal Hussein, moved to South Africa in 2008 and returned to Egypt during the Revolution.

He and his wife write the well-known blog www.manalaa.net.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/25533/Egypt/Politics-/Alaa-Abdel-Fattah-Portrait-of-a-revolutionary.aspx

All of us are Mina Daniel

Translation: "We are All Mina Daniel"

The street artist is writing "martyr" under the portrait of Mina Daniel. This street artist didn't paint the portrait of Mina Daniel, but he is one of the many anonymous street artists to continue to spread the message.

This stencil appeared during the 28 October demonstration.

Mina Daniel was an activist killed in the 9 October "Bloody Sunday" Maspero clashes.(http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/23860/Egypt/Politics-/Activists-mourn-death-of-Maspero-martyr-Mina-Danie.aspx)

Christians marched from Shubra to Maspero, the state-run television building in downtown, to protest against the failure of the government to investigate attacks on churches in Upper Egypt. The military attacked the peaceful protesters, killing 27. During the violence, there were many rumors that state-run TV was calling on Muslims to protect the military who were being attacked by Christian protesters. The state-run TV did report that "The injured in the Maspero confirm the possesion of Coptic protesters of live ammunition." In reality, while the state-run media blamed the violence on religious tensions between Muslims and Christians, eye-witness accounts prove that it was in fact the military who were attacking Egyptians.

A curfew [2am-7am] was issued the night of 9 October, the first such curfew since I have arrived in Egypt.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContentP/1/25077/Egypt/Human-Rights-Watch-Report-Egypt-Don%E2%80%99t-Cover-Up-Mil.aspx

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/25708/Egypt/Politics-/Reconstructing-Masperos-Bloody-Sunday-An-Ahram-Onl.aspx

While Mina Daniel was an activist, he was not widely known before his death. The martyrdom of individuals is not unique to Mina.

The death of Khalid Said was a major rallying-point during the Revolution. Khalid Said died as a result of police torture in June 2010 in Alexandria.

(http://www.arabist.net/blog/2010/6/14/the-murder-of-khaled-said.html)

Khalid Said's death represented the brutality of the police, just as Mina Daniel's death represents the brutality of 9 October.

The "We are All Khalid Said" Facebook page was instrumental in organizing and mobilizing individuals in the revolution-- and is still active to this day. The Facebook page's anonymous-turned public administrator is Wael Ghonim, the Google-executive who has since because an international ambassador for the Egyptian revolution. "We are All X [name of martyr]" is now a popular slogan in Egypt.

Yosri Fouda

UPDATE, 7 November 2011:

Yosri Fouda appeared on BBC HARDtalk on 1 November, here are links to the full interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsVQLuomayE (part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVb3WyvPZP4&feature=related (part 2)

Translation: "Yosri Fouda"

Yosri Fouda, a former BBC and Al Jazeera journalist, is a respected television host in Egypt. He announced on Friday 21 October that he would suspend his talk-show "Akher Kalam" until further notice due to "relentless censoring efforts." Fouda was suppose to host writer Alaa El-Aswany (Yacobian Building, Chicago) on the Thursday before to discuss Fouda's interview of two Egyptian army generals, but instead cancelled the episode. I have heard Alaa El-Aswany speak several times at the El Sawy Culture Center (in Arabic). Not only is he an outspoken critic of SCAF, but he also has a very dynamic personality.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/0/24747/Egypt/0/Renowned-TV-presenter-Fouda-halts-famous-show,-cit.aspx

Harassment of media is a problem in post-Mubarak Egypt. Since the Revolution numerous bloggers and journalists have been called before military courts.