Dr. Hossam Badrawi Official Website
This dialogue took place between experts from my friends and the youth of “Tomorrow Dreamers” about human rights and the attack that Egypt is being subjected to from human rights organizations at home and abroad, as well as what was issued by the European Union Parliament criticizing Egypt in this regard.
I hesitated a lot to publish the dialogue for fear of misunderstanding here and there, and accusations that might get me just to open and publish the dialogue, especially as we are at the beginning of a new year. But I told myself that mostly what happens between the elites and the youth, if it remains imprisoned without venting, it may explode in a moment without introductions.. and we are in a stage that does not bear the consequences of instability or the chaos of the riots, and it is better for stability that everyone knows that there is a dialogue going on and ideas It is traded in the light and not in the darkness of invisibility.
The dialogue began when a young man referred to an article by Professor Imad Hussein, writer and member of the Senate, on Al-Shorouk website, and he read to us from it:
Is the best Egyptian response to the strong criticisms issued by the European Parliament a few days ago regarding the human rights file in Egypt, only insults and criticism?!
The European Parliament sharply criticized the Egyptian authorities, demanded the release of many prisoners, and even named about 25 names.
Unfortunately, most of the Egyptian responses were not at the level of the event, and were not in the right direction from my point of view, and I hope I am wrong!
The biggest mistake made by the majority of those who came to the fore was that their speech was directed at the Egyptian interior, not the outside that issued the report, as if we were “good news for the believers,” as they say!
What will we gain, when the core of all our discourse is that the West is unjust and slanderous and uses double standards, has double standards on human rights, and is unjust and arrogant?
There is no objection to addressing the interior and evangelizing the believers in order to increase the cohesion of the home front, but besides that, we must learn the language spoken by the world.
His colleague added:
Some organizations may actually be biased and have clear goals against Egypt as a country and not just against the regime.
Another young man replied: But the writer warns us that in the case of the European Parliament’s report, the matter is different, even if its decisions are not binding on governments, as it represents the peoples of all Europe. The writer says: It is politics, not principles, that govern everything, but once again we have to look for a new and different way to deal with this thorny file, and that the response to criticism is not only with seminars, statements, comparisons, and “evangelism among believers,” all of which are important things. But with different practical responses that address those who criticize us and refute their criticism, or call for an amendment in some plans and tracks, so as not to fall into the “traps set” around us!!
My friend, Mohamed Madkour, the educated and expert, replied:
Sadeed saw, Isn’t the time come for a common word, you people of Egypt, its intellectuals, and its youth, to establish a national platform. Respectable. A supporter of the Egyptian track addressing the outside world in its own language through platforms read by it?
I have already put this invitation to a group of us and in other forums. Despite the “traditional-typical diplomatic reservation” I was met with, I would venture to re-brand it in the midst of this gathering of experts and young people.
One of the young men said: Don’t our embassies play this role abroad and parliament in accountability at home?!
One of my diplomatic friends present commented:
Embassies cannot move abroad alone, guys, nor can they do so in the absence of a powerful media office that can keep pace with others in counter-propaganda.
Another friend commented and said: Certainly, most of us have had individual opportunities, separated, to respond to many of these slanders or to defend positions that are acceptable. But what I mean, and perhaps “the weakest of faith,” is the creation of a civil platform, through electronic communication platforms, that addresses the outside in a language that it can read, transmitting a voice that complements the official discourse, which may have credibility with a different taste.
A third said: We have to start from the point that we have a problem, because there is no point in any suggestion to start from the point that there is a conspiracy against us or that all that is said are allegations without evidence and salvation.
It is natural to start from the point of analyzing the current situation, which requires submitting an objective and detailed report on the human rights situation in Egypt. Human rights in Egypt, the state accepted him despite many criticisms of it, and the international bodies accepted him at the time for his impartiality, and then believed him in what he says of the positives that the state has done.
The Council, along with Parliament and the Human Rights Committee in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, must hold hearings for all stakeholders to identify the facts, and then have a report, which can be used to respond to any malicious allegations, and recommend the preparation of some tracks if there is a need.
Thus, we have dealt with the problem and did not evade and address the world forcefully.
A troublesome, intelligent young man said with a smile: By God, it is a logical and sound proposition. Why not adopt this rich group with its diversity and the weight of its experiences, which we respectfully discuss while we are with it as young people, a parallel platform, addressing and conversing in English, with a corresponding group of your acquaintances from intellectuals and thinkers all over the world. And I believe that with perseverance, you will make a platform like this a huge presence and follow-up.
Another friend said: Opening channels of dialogue with influential figures abroad is a patriotic duty, and it may be useful to review the book The Disinformation Age, which means in Arabic “the intended false information age,” which answers many of the questions you raised today with young people.
The young man said: The question remains, what are we and you doing?
I said: It is all sane and sober, but unfortunately, I think that the corridors of the official state do not trust civil society enough to leave it freedom of movement in this context, and there is no value for what we will say abroad, if it is a repetition of what the official state repeats in its responses to foreign transgressions here And there.
In order for there to be more than one platform that can stand in the way of the expansion of the Brotherhood and the enemies of the homeland, as well
Whoever will have weight in speaking abroad must not be just a clapper for the government at home in what is right and wrong, and most of those who do not make mistakes.
Whoever has credibility must sometimes disagree and be trusted by the state at the same time. This is a balance that the state must understand and allow a space of freedom that allows us to defend the homeland without being a chorus of hypocrites, and they are unfortunately many these days.
One young man commented:
Perhaps your articles, Doctor Hossam in “Al-Masry Al-Youm”, indicate that the chest of the state is expanding more than it was before, which we welcome and give us hope to say what is going on in our minds without fear or dread, in light of what we learn from you of self-restraint, good faith, and obtaining our rights through legitimate means. , respect for the law.
Doctor, we are conscious youth, capable of sane, not vulgar, and balanced presentation of our homeland when we have the right information and when you have acceptance of our differences sometimes and our mistakes at other times.
And if you and your peers with experience do not rise to such a challenge, which is due at home and abroad, and we are with you, then who is for it? Let’s gather our energies with your expertise and protect the country.
