Manal and Alaa's bit bucket

Here is a summary of what happened in the past two weeks regarding the arrest of the most prominent Egyptian blogger and a personal friend.

Alaa Abd El-Fatah (a.k.a Alaa Ahmed Seif) is a blogger, geek, activist and a remarkable person. Arrested, among others, on the 7th of May during a peaceful protest. He was protesting the arrest of Malek and others. Malek, a blogger, was arrested on the 24th of April while protesting. Lately, few were released while the rest will remain for 15 more days. They were all protesting for independence of the judiciary.

Originally by Socrates:

Alaa Abd El-Fatah was arrested today together with around ten more activists during a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with sixty activists who were arrested over the past two weeks in a non-violent sit in as well who were held in custody for two weeks under investigation for "crimes" that if anything would raise only mockery including: humiliating the president, possession of "publishing equipment"(graffiti spray) and blocking traffic. The first group of activists arrested two weeks ago was supposed to have their cases reviewed by prosecution today, so as to release or renew holding them under investigation. In solidarity with them 200 lawyers approached as a defense council, a number of judges, and a number of activists among whom were Alaa and his colleagues gathered around the court house. Authorities denied the activists entry to the court house, in addition to attempting to present the "detainees" files only, and not the detainees themselves to prosecution. For hours, Alaa and his fellow activists shouted slogans against the government, sang and showed solidarity with their detained fellow activists. At the end of the demonstration police forces surrounding the group increased, refused to let them leave and started picking those to arrest, Alaa and ten others. They were taken to the nearby police station were they were denied lawyers, or any visitors. Lawyers are now standing outside the station just monitoring in case the arrested activists are taken somewhere else, which is exactly what happened. Three of them were taken blindfolded to another police station and were released later.

Originally by Socrates:

Alaa Abd El-Fatah was arrested today together with around ten more activists during a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with sixty activists who were arrested over the past two weeks in a non-violent sit in as well who were held in custody for two weeks under investigation for "crimes" that if anything would raise only mockery including: humiliating the president, possession of "publishing equipment"(graffiti spray) and blocking traffic. The first group of activists arrested two weeks ago was supposed to have their cases reviewed by prosecution today, so as to release or renew holding them under investigation. In solidarity with them 200 lawyers approached as a defense council, a number of judges, and a number of activists among whom were Alaa and his colleagues gathered around the court house. Authorities denied the activists entry to the court house, in addition to attempting to present the "detainees" files only, and not the detainees themselves to prosecution. For hours, Alaa and his fellow activists shouted slogans against the government, sang and showed solidarity with their detained fellow activists. At the end of the demonstration police forces surrounding the group increased, refused to let them leave and started picking those to arrest, Alaa and ten others. They were taken to the nearby police station were they were denied lawyers, or any visitors. Lawyers are now standing outside the station just monitoring in case the arrested activists are taken somewhere else, which is exactly what happened. Three of them were taken blindfolded to another police station and were released later.

بعد زيارة مكوكية خاطفة أستمرت ساعة و شوية لمدينة السويس و تحت حراسة أمنية مخففة لكذا جزء في المليون. تأكدت أن المصري يعبد ختم النسر.

المواطن المصري الصالح يحج له الدواوين و الوزارات و المجمعات و المدن. و يتطلع له في شفائة على نفقة الختم. و في سفره يتوسل وجهة علي أوراقة. و يتمسح بشفاعتة في أوراق ضرائبةو تجنيدة و تعيينة و يتمم به نصف دينه. و لن يرقد بسلام في الأرض بدون موافقته.

بعد زيارة مكوكية خاطفة أستمرت ساعة و شوية لمدينة السويس و تحت حراسة أمنية مخففة لكذا جزء في المليون. تأكدت أن المصري يعبد ختم النسر.

المواطن المصري الصالح يحج له الدواوين و الوزارات و المجمعات و المدن. و يتطلع له في شفائة على نفقة الختم. و في سفره يتوسل وجهة علي أوراقة. و يتمسح بشفاعتة في أوراق ضرائبةو تجنيدة و تعيينة و يتمم به نصف دينه. و لن يرقد بسلام في الأرض بدون موافقته.

Just after I blogged about the common egyptian bulbul. I found a couple infront of the window and managed to take photos of them. The photos are a little bit shaky (because of the dim light) but they are ok. Notice the one staring at me. Actually it is a mirrored glass so it is probably staring at its own reflections. Now I need a better camera.

Just after I blogged about the common egyptian bulbul. I found a couple infront of the window and managed to take photos of them. The photos are a little bit shaky (because of the dim light) but they are ok. Notice the one staring at me. Actually it is a mirrored glass so it is probably staring at its own reflections. Now I need a better camera.

I never thought that there is such a large variety of birds living in Cairo. Check this photo collection by namq on flickr. Or you could check his blog Notice the tags, they have the scientific name of each bird along side the English name. Never knew that a Bulbul is called so in both English and Arabic. Not only that but there is a large family of Bulbuls living in Africa and Asia.

UPDATE: I managed to shot some bulbuls too :)

I never thought that there is such a large variety of birds living in Cairo. Check this photo collection by namq on flickr. Notice the tags, they have the scientific name of each bird along side the English name. Never knew that a Bulbul is called so in both English and Arabic. Not only that but there is a large family of Bulbuls living in Africa and Asia.

الممنوع بدون اقتناع .. مرغوب.

الممنوع بدون اقتناع .. مرغوب.

She was one of the top ten students in the whole country in secondary education. She asked the minister for a night job to help support her family of two parents and 7 brothers and sisters.

One day, she stopped sleeping. She became more fun and daring. Other nights she sat alone in the dark and sobbed for no reason thinking life is not worth it. One day she went to her balcony and flashed the street, exposing her naked breasts to the people. She was beaten by her parents. They didn't like her new behaviour. She was admitted to the hospital.

She said she loved me. Like any other guy she sees, she falls in love with him in 2 seconds.

I had to run away from her open arms while she chased me with a starring look and shaking hands.

She was one of the top ten students in the whole country in secondary education. She asked the minister for a night job to help support her family of two parents and 7 brothers and sisters.

One day, she stopped sleeping. She became more fun and daring. Other nights she sat alone in the dark and sobbed for no reason thinking life was not worth it. One day she went to her balcony and flashed the street, exposing her naked breasts to the people. She was beaten by her parents. They didn't like her new behaviour. She was admitted to the hospital.

She said she loved me. Like any other guy she sees, she falls in love with him in 2 seconds.

I had to run away from her open arms while she chased me with a starring look and shaking hands.

More photos and a story later.

More photos and a story later.

  أنا: باب الشاعرية ؟ فكرتني بالطوخي الفطاطري  ضحك و قال: أيوة ... أنت ذوقك في الأكل كدة يا دكتور 

قالها و هو بيصارع لسانة الثقيل و قلقة من الي بيحطلو المخدرات في الشاي.

<< حجم أكبر

  أنا: باب الشاعرية ؟ فكرتني بالطوخي الفطاطري  ضحك و قال: أيوة ... أنت ذوقك في الأكل كدة يا دكتور 

قالها و هو بيصارع لسانة الثقيل و قلقة من الي بيحطلو المخدرات في الشاي.

Dear Blog,

Sometimes I stare in front of your 'Submit story' page for hours. I write something very personal in it. A story that will expose my weaknesses and imperfections. A feeling that is naive or childish. Or just plain foolishness I have done. It is important to me to confess and to let it all out. But I never click submit. I delete it and do something else. I think we are not good friends. But, anyways, thanks for listening to my boring posts.

Yours,
Mostafa

Dear Blog,

Sometimes I stare in front of your 'Submit story' page for hours. I write something very personal in it. A story that will expose my weaknesses and imperfections. A feeling that is naive or childish. Or just plain foolishness I have done. It is important to me to confess and to let it all out. But I never click submit. I delete it and do something else. I think we are not good friends. But, anyways, thanks for listening to my boring posts.

Yours,
Mostafa

Alaa sent a number of SMSs from the sit in. Since he couldn't set up his blog to do the same due to Vodaphone putting restrictions on international SMS. These SMS appeared as published posts on the front page of this blog.

I removed the posts from the front page, but they are still accessible.

Some messages got truncated.

read more

Alaa sent a number of SMSs from the sit in. Since he couldn't set up his blog to do the same due to Vodaphone putting restrictions on international SMS. These SMS appeared as published posts on the front page of this blog.

I removed the posts from the front page, but they are still accessible.

Some messages got truncated.

read more

Sit in over we marched to syndicates security harased us tried to grab my camera setling in lawyers syndicate

wraping up took down the huge flag and the green thingy that is supposed to represent judges sash security cars gathering one broke we helped push it

cairo slowly waking and we can feel her yawn and as lovers we hover over her face turned evey twitch waiting for the magical moment when she smiles at us

Slowly waking up a very cold night hyper active elements already chanting

You have reached your credit limit ... Stop sending songs ya alaa

Everyone sleeping now

Wa ana mesh sakran qadem gish el yasar qadem

Wi ma3ana neswan qadem wi hanrol kaman qadem

Gish el yasar qadem men kol makan qadem ra3'm el ikhwan