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Famous Maged Mandour Quotes

“Starting from the premise of the organic unity of the nation, the opposition can be painted as social groups outside the ‘nation’, since, simply put, they threaten the nation’s natural harmony. However, this concept is only plausible if the regime, or, more precisely, the military, is able to portray itself as a representative of the nation and guardian of the state, which it has been very successful in doing. Hence, opposition to the military regime is equated with treason to the nation, and thus should be repressed by any means necessary. The narrative used to solicit popular support involved the propagation of numerous conspiracy theories, including the claim that the events of 2011, the groups that participated in it, and those who support it are part of a systemic effort to destroy the Egyptian state, which was only thwarted by the military’s intervention in 2013.” Chapter “Genesis”, page 33”

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Book:Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge
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“When describing the opposition, remaining true to the regime narrative, Sisi coined a new term: ‘The people of evil’ (BBC, 2016). The term started to gain currency in 2016, when popular opposition to the transfer of the two islands in the Red Sea, Tiran and Sanafir, from Egyptian to Saudi sovereignty became apparent. However, it first made an appearance during Sisi’s speech inaugurating the nee Suez Canal in 2015 (Armbrust, 2019, p. 223). Even though it was never explicitly defined, it became clear that Sisi used it to describe the opposition in general, with specific mention of those who doubted and criticized the regimes ‘achievements’ (RT, 2019). Sisi used a rhetoric that not only framed the opposition as evil but also framed the regime as good, and the conflict between them as an existential struggle between good and evil: a biblical image par excellence. The framing of the opposition as evil and treasonous was not only a rhetorical device but also laid down the foundation of mass repression.” Chapter “Genesis”, Pages 37-38”

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Book:Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge
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“General Abdulatty Kofta (Al Araby, 2021). [quoter’s note: a “kofta” is an Egyptian meatball basically] In February 2014, the general announced that the military had invented a device that could cure both Hepatitis C and H.I.V. The proposed cure was a medical device that could detect and destroy the virus, almost instantly. General Abdulatty stated that he would extract the virus from the patient, and give it back to him as a piece of Kofta, which the patient could eat. Even though there was no scientific evidence to support these claims, the pro-regime media pushed the narrative to new heights (El Dashan, 2014), even after the scientific advisor to the interim President Adly Mansour, Essam Hegy, was extremely critical of the announcement due to its lack of scientific merit (Abdelaziz and Abedine, 2014). The military even announced that the miracle cure would be available in military hospitals and clinics starting from July 2014, only to backtrack a month before that date (Loveluck, 2014). It was later established that General Abdulatty was not a medical professional nor a scientist, and that he was previously sentenced to one month in jail in 2007 for impersonating a doctor and practising without a license (Al Araby, 2021). His connection to the military was also questionable. Abdulatty was granted the rank of honorary general after after the head of the engineering authority became attracted to the general’s ideas, in spite of having no formal affiliation with the military establishment (Armbrust, 2019, p. 229). How Abdulatty was able to convince the military brass to support his bizarre claim to have found a miracle cure remain so a mystery, but it is indicative of the level of prevalent polarisation that a charlatan was able to spin such a ridiculous state-sponsored lie that a large number of Egyptians believed.” Chapter “Genesis”, Page 37”

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Book:Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge
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“The concept of fourth-generation wars simply refers to the use of disinformation, funding subversive N.G.O.s, and spreading rumours as a method for warfare, broadening the concept of war to include non-military action. This endlessly elastic concept is a godsend for conspiracy theorists and provides endless justification for state repression.” Chapter “Genesis”, page 33”

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Book:Egypt under El-Sisi: A Nation on the Edge
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