CAIRO // Ibrahim Eissa, one of the country's most vocal opposition writers, was fired from his newspaper job, in what some observers say is part of a government clampdown on private media a month before legislative elections.
Eissa, 45, on Monday was fired as the editor of the prominent opposition daily Al-Dustour, by its new owners. "I feel I've watched this movie before and I can handle it better now. "The regime is making a clear statement: instead of preventing vote rigging, they are silencing talking about it," he said. "I feel sorry for the Egyptian press and media." Eissa said he had argued on Monday with the new owners, who asked him not to publish a column by the opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei in the edition of the paper to be published today.
"I rejected [their argument] of course, and before I resigned, they fired me." Al-Dustour was purchased in August by ElSayed el Badawi and Reda Edward. Mr el Badawi is the owner of Al-Hayat, a private TV channel and the newly elected leader of Al-Wafd, Egypt's oldest liberal party. Mr el Badawi bought Al-Dustour shortly after he was elected to the party post. Al-Wafd is expected to field a large number of candidates in the elections next month.
Mr ElBaradei's column, which was published on the internet by groups supporting him, was to coincide with ceremonies marking the Arab-Israeli war of 1973. "Unfortunately, 37 years after October victory, we have progressed neither politically nor economically and our social and cultural problems have become deeper," Mr ElBaradei wrote. Mr ElBaradei, 68, is the former executive director of the UN nuclear agency. He returned to Egypt in February and has been demanding reform and calling for a boycott of the elections. Al-Dustour had been giving Mr ElBaradei a platform.
At the paper's Cairo office, reporters said they were the only ones who showed up for work yesterday; editors and management staff were absent. The paper's journalists criticised Eissa's dismissal. "Without Ibrahim Eissa the paper will be tasteless, colourless and odourless," they said in a statement posted on the paper's website. Abdel Moneim Mahmoud, a reporter at Al-Dustour, said the new owners had taken computers from the newspaper's offices to an unknown place so they could publish the paper.
Mr el Badawi held a press conference at which he resigned as the chief of the board of the newspaper, but he did not name a new editor. He said Eissa could write a weekly column in Al-Dustour. The paper has been critical of the government and been known for breaking political, social and religious taboos since it opened in 1995. The government closed it in 1998. The paper hit the newsstands again in 2005 amid the liberal reforms of that year.
Also yesterday, the weekly column by the novelist Alaa al Aswany was not published in the independent daily Al-Shorouk. Last weekend, Eissa was withdrawn as the host of a popular talk show on a private satellite TV station. That move was criticised by the Journalists' Union as "an organised attack on media freedoms". It also "expressing deep concerns about reported pressure from the regime" barring Eissa from the talk show shortly after Cairo Today, a prime time talk show, was taken off the Saudi-owned Orbit channel.
Anas el Fiqqi, the minister of information, said the Cairo Today decision two weeks ago had no political dimension and was only because the network had not paid its bills. Amr Adeeb, of Orbit TV, acknowledged there had been an "administrative misunderstanding", but said the network had since paid all its bills.
nmagd@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by the Associated Press
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
The years Ramadan fell in May
The%20specs
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
