Before and during the 2018 presidential elections, western media zoomed in on Egypt with a vengeance. Pivotal interest made the intention clear: wreaking havoc.
I perused dozens of articles online, and not one was fair or objective, but the matter didn’t end there. Syndicated agencies such as Associated Press and Reuters passed their information and critiques on to the world, which assumed that these notable agencies were fair. End result, the world at large perceived Egypt through western media’s shoddy outlook and followed blindly.
The rage against Egypt is at its strongest today as western media reluctantly realize who the winner of the 2018 presidential elections is and try to cast a shadow of doubt on the turnout, candidates, and results.
Evidently, western media are against the current Egyptian regime. Some uphold democracy, human rights, and legislative channels over security and development. Others may be misguided, manipulated, or uninformed. While many others are part of a bigger scheme to thwart Egypt’s improvement opportunity.
We will never know the exact cause behind the animosity of western journalists towards the current regime, but it is so apparent that it is undeniable.
The headlines tell it all; “Life is hard in Sisi’s Egypt, but voters have little choice.” Indeed, Egyptians have all the choices: they can vote for El Sisi again, vote for the other candidate, or not vote at all.
“Egypt election: ‘I’m not going to vote. I know the result—Sisi will win.’ Western media may not want to see, but the turnout, even in Sinai, was extraordinary. This article goes on to say that the “young voters were a rare sight.” Fewer young voters? Maybe, but a rare sight, I beg to differ; I’ve seen hundreds of photos on social media of young voters waving their dipped-in-electoral-ink finger.
“In Egypt, wall-to-wall el-Sissi banners inspire satire,” but these plastered-everywhere banners are mounted by regular Egyptians. Had they been mounted by the state, it would be a different ballgame altogether, so please, don’t mock the sincerity of Egyptians.
“Egyptian President Sisi will win again, partly thanks to the Christian vote,” is dangerous, erroneous, and offensive as it may induce further terrorist attacks on Christians. President Sisi will win thanks to Egyptians.
“Egypt's revolutionaries grieve ahead of Sisi re-election”; well, so much has been accomplished in the last little while that those who don’t see the achievements will never see any achievements; I say let them grieve.
“Go Forth and Vote, Egyptians Told, as Apathy Fears Stalk Ballot,” “Egypt’s elections should be a lock, so why is President Sisi worried?” or “President Sisi will win Egypt’s election. But here’s why he should be worried.” The previous headlines are all assuming that the president is worried that he may not get enough voters coming out to vote for him. Believe me, this is wishful thinking on the part of those who want President El Sisi to fail. He won’t though, neither is he worried.
President Sisi wants Egyptians to go and vote so as to give him a firmer and stronger mandate and to prove to the world that Egypt is on the right track, its people one unified front, not because he is worried.
Reuters’s was particularly special as it denounced the elections as a “sham.” Its headline read, “Amid slow voting, Egypt's Sisi cruises toward victory,” ignoring the heavy turnout. This while CNN’s footage implied that loud speakers were placed by authorities only to trigger dancing at polling stations.
The most farcical headline, though primarily off the election topic, was a piece on Mo Salah’s achievements. Good, I said, something positive, but the headline read, “How Mohamed Salah’s brilliance in a Liverpool shirt brings joy to a small village and a torn nation.” Note the “torn nation,” please, a phrase so far off, it is ludicrous. Then the article glorifies Salah, but couldn’t possibly let the opportunity pass without generating a distorted image.
The last two paragraphs mention inflation pushing up the prices of almost everything, repression under Sisi, as tens of thousands of prisoners remain in jail, and considers Sisi a divisive figure. It ends on the note, “Later this month, Sisi will go to the polls to seek re-elections. He’s a divisive figure among Egyptians, but with all credible opposition to him swept aside, the elections are all but over. “
You tell me how an article about an extraordinary football player could include irrelevant, unrelated content as the above unless it is intentionally set to go after the current regime.
As usual, I fume after I read the fabricated, preposterous analyses; however, I’ve just realized how we will get back at them. It is the Egyptians who will vindicate Egyptians. This sudden realization gave me comfort, soothed my sorrows, and was suffice to calm me down. Western media will never win.
Egyptians have decided to tell the world, the western media world in particular, that they don’t really consider their bellowing and hollering of any significance. They decided that they will show the world that they are united against all the efforts made to return Egypt to the spiralling down fate that it was in.
Proving that apathy has gone out the window, the elections abroad and in Egypt were impressive and joyful as polls filled to the brim and queues zigzagged for lengthy distances. They transformed the presidential elections into an opportunity to party; and though, no photos of the turnout adorned western media, it remains proof that Egyptians realize what’s right for them.
They’ll have you believe that the young avoided the elections, the old were the ones voting, polls were empty, Egyptians were forced to go and vote, and dancing and joy accompanying the voting is shameful. This is false; Egyptians from all backgrounds and of all ages came out in droves as they celebrated their rights. They didn’t shy away from their enthusiasm.
Egyptians, continue to go to the polls, if for no other reason than to get even with western media.
