M

Egypt, CAHR, Autumn 2018

I am a human rights defender from Egypt, interested in minority rights in the MENA region. I co-founded one of the most important youth movements after the Egyptian revolution, which works on citizenship issues in Egypt. I am the founder and director of an initiative that has been working since 2016 on rehabilitating activists that belong to minorities in the MENA region so that they can use international law and mechanisms.

My family invested a lot in my education; they were very keen that I got a good education, as they believed that education is the only way to a better life. I hold a BA in International Relations from Helwan University in Cairo. I joined a Master's programme in political science at Cairo University, but there political opinion is as important as scientific and theoretical knowledge. However, as things stand politically in Egypt, I don't think that I'll be able to finish my Master's degree there.

I started my work in the public field after the Egyptian uprising like thousands of Egyptian youths. I was an eyewitness, I saw many events, a few victories and a lot of defeats. I saw one of the most corrupt regimes and dictatorships fall in 2011, I saw hope in the eyes of the Egyptians, I realized the alliance of military and Islamists. As a result of this alliance the dream of freedom, democracy, justice and equality was seized, hundreds of young people were killed in Mohamed Mahmoud Street, Tahrir Square, Magles Ash-shaab (Parliament) street, and the Maspero massacre.

I was an eyewitness, I saw many events, a few victories and a lot of defeats.

The Maspero massacre was a turning point in my work. It was a reason to understand the importance of knowledge and uprising the awareness of Minorities in Egypt. So, I worked in the research field, and I have worked for many research centers in Egypt. I am interested in citizenship and minority issues in the MENA region. 2016 was my first attempt to start an NGO focusing on those subjects in MENA region. Although I succeeded in conducting a lot of research and advocacy projects and a good network with regional and international organizations, I couldn't start it officially because of the law which regulates the work of civil society. In fact, that law is intended to stop NGOs from working in Egypt.

The ruling elite in Egypt is trying to convince the world that Egyptians are underdeveloped, radical, extremists and ignorant, and they, "the regime", are the civilized, the modern, and protectors of the world from their people. In fact, I believe in the people, the people who made a revolution or uprising like what happened in Egypt on 25 January 2011. I have no doubts that they are great people.

I belong to the Coptic Christian minority, the biggest religious minority in the MENA region. We are descendants of the Pharaohs. In my opinion, Coptic people have through history proved their ability to live with others and accept different cultures. Nowadays, there is a trend amongst some of the official bodies in the state to obliterate everything that is Coptic, be it archaeological ruins, heritage, culture, even Copts themselves. When there was a middle class in Egypt I belonged to it. Some opinions say that the middle class in any society is the protection of identity and culture, and it produces thinkers, creators, innovators, artists, politicians and decision makers. Some people in Egypt believe that there is a trend to eliminate the middle class, especially after the 25 January 2011 uprising. Maybe the last economical procedures and the huge number of taxes imposed on the people are an evidence of that.

Despite the difficulties and disadvantages me and anybody who works in the human rights field is facing, I will continue. This is my choice, and whatever the price, I am ready to pay. I intend to exploit every moment I have in the UK to get the most knowledge, raise awareness and gain skills. One of my dreams is to start my initiative here, as it's impossible to register NGOs in my country. This is a very good opportunity to attend some Master's classes, and I will do my best to get a Master's scholarship for the next academic year. I have a lot of projects and ideas to do in my country; I just want to go back home with all the tools which make me able to achieve it, to make a true change.

The MENA region has many groups of minorities. Although they are a small number of the population, they are great too. The diversity creates a common space of coexistence leading to an increase the cultural, social, political and economic richness of any society. Therefore I have a dream that a day will come where there will be no more discrimination not only in Egypt, but in all the world.