A few years ago, al-Sisi, in a speech before Muslim clerics from al-Azhar, said “we are in need of a religious revolution.” Nothing happened, but for years afterward I was asked about this in numerous interviews, as if it heralded genuine reform in Islam. This latest statement from al-Sisi likely won’t extinguish the fond hopes […]
Egypt: After Islamic State bombings at churches, Sisi to declare three-month state of emergency
The country has struggled with the growing problem of Islamic extremism since the military coup. Perhaps Sisi’s intent in declaring a state of emergency is to give an appearance to Egyptians and the world that something tangible is being done to combat the forces of jihad that are plaguing Egypt and the rest of the […]
Egypt: Muslims shoot Christian teacher in the head as attacks on Christians escalate
The Economist reported in December that “a massacre of Coptic Christians” in Egypt is underway, and identified “disgruntled Islamists” who are out to revenge Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s crackdown of the Muslim Brotherhood. Coptic Christians strongly supported el-Sisi’s ouster of his MB predecessor, Mohammed Morsi. Former Unit 777 (an Egyptian military counter-terrorism and special operations unit) chief-of-staff […]
Trump affirms support for Egypt’s fight against terror in phone call with Sisi
Sisi’s regime isn’t perfect. Muslims are still brutalizing Christians in Egypt, and the government has done little to protect this despised and defenseless minority. At the same time, Sisi is a bulwark against political Islam in the Middle East. With Turkey rapidly re-Islamizing and the Islamic State still in the picture, that is important. So […]
Egypt strengthens ties with Hamas
The decision to “strengthen ties with Hamas” bears troubling implications despite the “anti-Islamic State campaign” excuse, particularly regarding Egypt’s relations with Israel. Egypt’s strengthening of relations with Hamas suggests that Egypt is heading in a direction opposite to the one that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi indicated when he called for Islamic reform. It is also […]
Egypt summons U.S. ambassador over DC Muslim Brotherhood meetings
The Egyptian government is understandably annoyed over Obama’s continuing support for the Muslim Brotherhood. “Egypt summons U.S. ambassador over Muslim Brotherhood,” by Arshad Mohammed, Reuters, June 8, 2015: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Egypt summoned the U.S. ambassador in Cairo to show displeasure at Muslim Brotherhood figures coming to Washington for a private conference, sources familiar with […]
Raymond Ibrahim: Sisi Revisits ‘Egypt’s Identity Crisis’
[FrontPage Mag, via RaymondIbrahim.com] Of all the recent calls for reform made by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, perhaps most adamant has been his insistence that all Egyptians—Muslims and Christians—see themselves first and foremost as Egyptians. This came out very clearly when he visited the St. Mark Coptic Cathedral during Christmas Eve mass. Then, he […]
Raymond Ibrahim: Sisi’s Brave New Egypt?
[Originally published by PJ Media, via RaymondIbrahim.com] Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi continues to be the antithesis of longstanding mainstream media portrayals of him. First there was his historic speech where he, leader of the largest Arab nation, and a Muslim, accused Islamic thinking of being the scourge of humanity—in words that no Western leader […]
Video: Sisi’s Remarkable Speech on Dangers of Islamic “Thinking”
[Via RaymondIbrahim.com] The video of Egyptian President Sisi discussing how Islamic “thinking is antagonizing the entire world” can be viewed below. If English subtitles do not appear click “CC” in bottom-right-hand corner.
Egypt’s Sisi: “We are in need of a religious revolution”
The speech that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently made calling for Islamic reform is getting quite a bit of attention, and warrants close examination. Here are the excerpts that Raymond Ibrahim posted here at Jihad Watch a few days ago, with my comments interspersed: I am referring here to the religious clerics. We have […]
Egypt’s Sisi: Islamic “thinking” is “antagonizing the entire world”
[Via RaymondIbrahim.com] Speaking before Al-Azhar and the Awqaf Ministry on New Year’s Day, 2015, in connection to Prophet Muhammad’s upcoming birthday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a vocal supporter for a renewed vision of Islam, made what must be his most forceful and impassioned plea to date on the subject. Among other things, Sisi said […]