We're all Egyptians ... but ....

We're all Egyptians but some are more Egyptian than others

What is 'Democracy'?

The rule of law; but that's now split

Freedom of speech, to include freedom of the media; but now if you do not agree with one thing or another, then you're not 'one of us' ... there is even talk now of a 'harmonious' media. What does that mean? Your Guess.

Property rights; Not so, The Minister of defence declared to day that Egyptians only will be granted rights to buy property, either residential or commercial, in Sinai. A few days ago, I was watching a TV programme called El Beit El Kebeer, or 'The Big Home' and it was broadcast from Sharm El Sheikh. It was about property ownership in Sinai. The guest was a dual national who decided to return to Egypt and buy a business and a home and reside peacefully there, and has been doing so for a while. He said that he invested all his money to do that, but he is now required to sell off everything before April to an Egyptian who does not hold any other nationality and who is born to Egyptian parents, otherwise, the government will impose a purchase order and pay him for 'his' possessions as they see fit! Today, El-Sissi, Minister of defence did not talk about this bit in a meeting with Sinai Bedouin chiefs. Instead, he said that for the security of Sinai, only 'Egyptians' will be allowed to buy property, meaning, that he doesn't consider dual nationals like myself, and my children, to be 'Egyptian'. And so, for the 'security' of Egypt, and we all care about the security of Egypt, but I must not be allowed to buy property in Sinai! Because? There is a chance duals like me may then sell off to enemies thus jeopardising Egypt's security ... Excuse me?! Is he saying that dual nationals are all traitors or have the potential to be?! That doesn't just hurt, it stings! ... and it's unacceptable to be doubted at such a terrible thing!

... and what guarantees does minister have that Egyptians of 'some' Egyptian everything won't also have that potential to betray one way or another?! Or, what about that Egyptian of Egyptian Everything who may be married to a foreigner, and there are loads, would he be allowed to own property? What if he dies, would the kids not be allowed to inherit then, or be forced to sell at whatever price to the state, if they can't find an all Egyptian to buy off them?! And since property is stagnant at the moment, where is the government going to get all the money for all the buy backs?! So can you imagine the 'fair' price they intend to pay, as minister has said today? Ruin for some then a no go area for afters! ... and then, it must be the government's intention to sell all the 'acquired' property to 'all' Egyptians later on, right? Would it be at the 'fair' price they paid to the dual national owner 'Egyptian'? Meaning, dual national Egyptian subsidising the 'all' Egyptian, Besides, while we all want stability and security, how is an empty Sinai secure?! I thought the opposite was true, and I thought that a well populated Sinai, even if 'a' traitor of whatever composition sells to an enemy, the sheer number of property ownership would make that sale negligent since that enemy would have real trouble to persuade such huge number of people to commit treason. Hence, the initiative should be to actually invite more duals to come and buy and invest in Sinai rather than the opposite, I think.

I was told by a friend that this 'law', and I don't know if it is one or just a decree, has been going on for the past few months and gives dual nationals only six months to sell ending in April, but it wasn't spoken of until recently. Meaning, many Egyptian dual nationals who own property in Sinai do not have any idea of what's coming, specially if they own but still live out of Egypt!

You know, there has been a media campaign asking Egyptians abroad to help Egypt after the revolution.  There have even been TV crews going out and meeting with Egyptians now residing in Britain, France, Australia, the USA ... etc. Many of those they met will of course be dual nationals. I do not think there is 'one' such Egyptian who hasn't helped and continues to help out of 'Love' for Egypt and 'commitment' to their roots, and 'loyalty' to the land including 'all' the peoples of Egypt. I do not know what message such decisions send to those Egyptians, but it looks like; you're Egyptian when you help, otherwise, you're not really ... and it's not only material help, but it is us, the dual nationals who have mixed with other and all cultures and can, not just adapt, but think out of the box, who can help Egypt advance and prosper, and make friends with everybody, something which she greatly needs now ...

It's always been the case that if an Egyptian goes to work or whatever in the Gulf for example, and stay for decades, although without taking a second nationality as those countries hardly give it, that they can always come back and be Egyptian, and make it to even a Prime Minister. But for those who go anywhere else in the world and take their adoptive country's name, well, those, as you can see, have the potential to be traitors and need to have their freedoms restricted ... not fair!

Another pillar of democracy is 'Human rights', and I wonder if this stark discrimination complies? And if  dual nationals are now a minority, then, what about 'equal' rights? Or, how many minorities are there now in Egypt? It seems to be turning into a country of minorities, so many 'them', and not many 'us'?

Liberal me, whatever that means in Egypt, is no traitor, and although this decision does not affect me, it still made tears run down my cheeks. You know what minister, I am a proud Egyptian, and a proud Brit, and I am no traitor.

So, and since I am deeply concerned about this injustice, I urge Dr Morsi to interfere, to, for the sake of fairness, urgently look into that discriminatory 'law' or decision, or whatever it is called, because it sounds like a decision made on the hoof as there hasn't been any 'democratic' discussions or consultations before it was made as far as I understand. Besides, once those affected take their stories abroad, imagine the harm to Egypt's reputation, and it's potential for attracting foreign investment. Awful, because those will be asking; how do we know that Sinai is not just the start of a law that may soon spread to the whole?! Or, if Egypt doesn't trust her own children, how can we trust to invest in her? Indeed, once the affected Egyptian duals return with their stories, and with the resulting hurt, will other dual Egyptians panic into selling whatever property they too may have all over the country for fear of the same treatment? What would be the effect of such fear, not just on the Egyptian economy, but on the away children's relations with the 'mother' country too ... 

This is a very bad advertisement for Egypt! Please reconsider Dr Morsi. Lots of people have many fears already and one was hoping fears will be addressed to bring harmony back, not to add on to them. As for  myself, and people like me, we are some of those wish for prosperity for Egypt, and for that, are willing to compromise for the sake of the security and stability of our mother country even if we don't subscribe to one group or another's ideology. So please do not allow us to be degraded as such above or accuse us of something we are definitely not. I do care, very much, even though I am away most of the time, and while I'm in Egypt as I am now. Perhaps the reason for this willingness to compromise up to a point is precisely because I live in a democracy and have been for decades, and perhaps why I am willing, up to a point that does not include being classified as a second class citizen in my own country of birth, to allow for a new system of government to mature, providing they strive to unite, not divide. I had hoped that with the revolution and change of system, that we will all come together as 'Egyptians', and help the country back on her feet as 'Egyptians, regardless of where we are and so long as we hold Egypt's name high, which we all do, whether we are inside or out.

I sincerely hope this is his aim too.

Opposition demands 11 guarantees for parliamentary [polls]

Democracy and Islam deteriorated after the [revolution]

Egypt: Time for [dialogue]
Dual [National]

Defence Minister to study Sinai land [ownership] ... Good on Minister, but please define 'foreigner' and if that includes dual nationals, as well as what will happen to those fearful dual nationals now being asked to sell and go by April 2013  :-)

Senator McCain in [Egypt]
From Egyptians [abroad]
New elections law [approved]and rejected by [women]
MB eyes top diplomatic [posts]

Sinai land [ownership] ... and from [The Telegraph]
Coptic Christians to protest [regime]