Egyptian newspapers focused their front-page news coverage on Tuesday on Egyptian pilgrims in Mecca and the Eid al-Ahda holiday. Other news headlines focused on Administrative Court rulings pertaining to parliamentary nominations and the mobilization of parties and political movements ahead of People's Assembly elections scheduled for 28 November.
State-owned daily Al-Ahram's largest headline read: "The National Democratic Party loses four seats, gains another four; while four MPs from the outlawed group are disqualified." The state-owned media refers to the Muslim Brotherhood oppposition movement not by its official name, but by its official status as an outlawed group. A sub-headline read: "Administrative courts re-admits 145 candidates in parliamentary race." The article states that, following the judicial verdicts issued by the administrative courts and decisions of the High Elections Commission, the total number of candidates partaking in the parliamentary elections stands at 5,181–including 4,801 competing for customary seats and another 380 female candidates competing for seats reserved for women.
Independent daily Al-Shorouk ran a large headline reading, "Administrative courts rearrange electoral map." The article makes reference to the nominations of candidates from the ruling NDP, whom the party later removed from its electoral rosters. Dozens of candidates across the country, running as independents or members of the ruling party, filed urgent judicial appeals before the administrative courts after their names were removed from electoral rosters in different governorates. The administrative courts ordered the majority of these candidates to be re-admitted into the elections.
Al-Shorouk ran another headline reading, "The shortest way to a voter's vote is his stomach." The sub-head reads, "Candidates from the National Democratic Party and independents use meat as a weapon in the electoral battle for the 2010 parliamentary elections." The article mentions that a countless number of parliamentary candidates were making use of meat, which they distributed on the occasion of the Eid al-Ahda religious holiday in an effort to win over voters in their respective constituencies.
The independent Al-Youm Al-Sabea ran a similar headline reading, "Candidates and their offers of sacrificial meats during Eid al-Adha–For the sake of God.. or for the sake of the People's Assembly?" It's sub-headline reads, "30,000 calves and 90,000 sheep in the campaigning battle." Another headline quotes independent MP Mustafa Bakri, who claims that the Minister of State for Military Production "had squandered LE40 million on his electoral campaign."
In liberal opposition newspaper Al-Wafd, the efforts of a former assistant to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Abdallah al-Ashaal, is mentioned in a large headline on its front page. "Al-Ashaal appeals against the nominations of ministers in parliamentary elections." The article mentions that al-Ashaal has been seeking a judicial ruling against the nine ministers (all of whom are members of the ruling NDP) who are running for seats in parliament. He cites article 134 of the Egyptian Constitution, which stipulates that "the Prime Minister, his deputies, the ministers and their deputies may become members of the People’s Assembly." On this basis, he argues that ministers may legally seek parliamentary seats through appointment, but not through elections. Al-Ashaal considers this an unfair advantage in favor of ministers who are already known by Egyptian voters and who utilize their influence and the state's resources against less fortunate candidates–thus giving them the upper hand in elections.
The largest headline in the opposition paper quotes party president Sayyed al-Badawi: "Al-Wafd will not accept compromises at the expense of the homeland or citizens' interests." Sub-headlines announced: "I warn the government against electoral fraud.. and hope that President Mubarak will fulfill his promises" to hold free elections. Al-Badawi, who was addressing an electoral conference in support of his party, argued that Egypt's military rulers had "monopolized power for the past 58 years.. leading the country to poverty and a collapse of services." Another headline in the opinion pages reads: "In order to rest assured about your children's future… Don't vote for the candidates of the National Democratic Party."
Independent daily Al-Dostour, meanwhile, ran a headline reading: "NDP candidate attacked with sticks and knives during campaign march; 47 of his supporters injured in Damietta." The article mentions that thugs, hired by a rival candidate in this Nile Delta circuit, assaulted Gamal al-Zeini, an MP from the ruling party, and his supporters on Sunday. Riot police were reportedly deployed around two villages in this circuit to prevent retaliatory attacks.
Al-Dostour ran another headline reading, "75,000 Egyptian pilgrims ascend Mount Arafat… Number of deaths among Egyptian pilgrims rises to 18." And Al-Shorouk reported: "Greatest station in pilgrimage completed" and "Death of 18th pilgrim." Al-Ahram, for its part, noted: "Celebrating the first day of the blessed Eid al-Adha."
Al-Shorouk ran a large front-page headline about a website that tracks incidents of sexual harassment in Egypt during the Eid and throughout the year. The HarassMap website, the paper notes, "receives girls' complaints regarding Eid harassment." Sexual harassment of women is reported to increase during Eid and other national holidays. The sub-head describes the Downtown and Mohandisin districts of Cairo as "the most dangerous spots" in this regard.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run
Rose el-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party
Youm7: Weekly, privately owned
Sawt el-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
