{"id":513,"date":"2019-10-29T14:16:35","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T14:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breaking-the-silence.online\/index.php\/2019\/10\/29\/human-rights-watch-condemned-egypt\/"},"modified":"2024-09-14T06:25:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T06:25:04","slug":"human-rights-watch-condemned-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/2019\/10\/29\/human-rights-watch-condemned-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Rights Watch condemned Egypt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From Identity to Self Expression: The Evolution of Tattoo Culture in Egypt<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tattoo\u00a0<\/span>culture<\/strong> in Egypt<\/a> has a history that is not quite as well-known or talked about, perhaps in large part due to the fact<\/strong> that tattoos are considered a rather taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> subject in contemporary Egyptian society.<\/p>\n

To truly delve into how tattoo<\/strong> culture<\/strong> has evolved throughout Egyptian history, it is important to point out the fact<\/strong> that there has been evidence<\/strong> of its existence<\/strong> since ancient times.<\/p>\n

In fact<\/strong>, evidence<\/strong> of tattooing in Egypt<\/a> has been found to span at least a 4,000 year period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Fast forward into contemporary Egyptian society and one<\/strong> will now find less of an \u2018outspoken\u2019 tattoo<\/strong> culture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As a result of Egypt<\/a> turning into more of a religiously led country, with a large Muslim population<\/strong> as well as a strong Coptic Christian population<\/strong>, tattooing is largely seen as taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> and against \u2018social norms\u2019 primarily due to it being seen as a sort of sin by Egypt<\/a>\u2019s religious community.<\/p>\n

Many Coptic Christian Egyptians tattoo<\/strong> crosses on their right<\/strong> wrists as a form<\/strong> of religious and spiritual identity.<\/p>\n

It is well known in Egyptian culture<\/strong> that when one<\/strong> sees a person with a tattooed right<\/strong> wrist, this is immediately translated into this person being a religious Coptic Christian.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Aside from tattoos serving a purpose of religious or spiritual identity in contemporary Egyptian society, some tattoos also serve a purpose of cultural identity in some smaller Egyptian sects, such as for Nubians and certain communities in upper Egypt<\/a> in which one<\/strong> will find women<\/strong> with traditional face tattoos.<\/p>\n

Although not as widely accepted as tattoos that serve a purpose of identity, tattooing as a form<\/strong> of self expression<\/strong> exists in modern Egyptian society as well.<\/p>\n

In a country where tattoo<\/strong> culture<\/strong> has always been taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>, it is interesting to witness how some Egyptians have not only embraced this stigmatized form<\/strong> of expression<\/strong> as their preferred art form<\/strong>, but a few of them have even managed to turn it into their profession.<\/p>\n

Each with their own unique style, these few Egyptian tattoo<\/strong> artists have defied cultural stigma to show us that there is more to tattoos than simply \u2018looking cool\u2019.<\/p>\n

At a closer glance, one<\/strong> can immediately tell that each of their tattoo<\/strong> designs were carefully thought out and constructed, expressing personal stories on the bodies of everyday modern Egyptians.<\/p>\n

Three particularly noteworthy Egyptian tattoo<\/strong> artists are Moheeb of Tezerd Inks, Abdelhamid Elnagar of Inkredible, and Roaa Bayoumi of Zeta Inks \u2013 all of whom create 100% original work, and whose designs showcase the detailed artistry that goes into each of these custom-made pieces.<\/p>\n

These Egyptian tattoo<\/strong> artists fight for the right<\/strong> of artistic self expression<\/strong> through tattooing on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

While this modern-day tattoo<\/strong> sub-culture<\/strong> may not necessarily comprise a large part of Egypt<\/a>\u2019s population<\/strong>, it is still worth noting how tattoos have evolved into being accepted as an artistic form<\/strong> of self expression<\/strong> amongst some of Egypt<\/a>\u2019s contemporary community \u2013 alongside those that serve religious and cultural purposes as well.<\/p>\n

A prominent Egyptian actor has won praise for breaking<\/strong> taboos<\/span><\/strong> by revealing his support for his transgender<\/strong> son<\/strong>‘s transition.<\/p>\n

Hesham Selim<\/a> spoke about his son<\/strong>‘s transition on Egyptian talk show \u00abAl-Qahera Wal Nas\u00bb on Sunday.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00abMy daughter Noura is now my son<\/strong> Nour,\u00bb the 62-year-old actor said according to Egyptian Streets.<\/p>\n

\u00abThis is a remarkable step and development for transgender<\/strong> people, and a step towards societal acceptance and a greater amount of support than exists now,\u00bb outspoken Egyptian transgender<\/strong> activist Malak Al-Kashef wrote on her Facebook<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

The majority of Egyptians are Muslims and many are deeply conservative.<\/p>\n

Although sex reassignment and gender transition are not criminalised, transgender<\/strong> Egyptians face legal hurdles and fierce societal opposition The medical transition process is opaque and seemingly byzantine.<\/p>\n

It is unclear whether Selim’s son<\/strong> sought approval for medical transition in Egypt<\/a> or elsewhere.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

While homosexuality is not criminalised, LGBTQ+ Egyptians are often prosecuted under vague morality laws and are not afforded legal protections against discrimination.<\/p>\n

In March, Human Rights Watch<\/a> condemned Egypt<\/a> for \u00abrefusing to recognise the existence<\/strong> of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender<\/strong> people\u00bb and \u00abflouting its responsibility to protect the rights of everyone\u00bb.<\/p>\n

Cairo<\/a> rejected recommendations to end the arrests of LGBTQ+ Egyptians during its Universal Periodic Review, a process through which members of the United Nations Human Rights Council weigh in on states’ human rights records.<\/p>\n

Egypt<\/a> said it did \u00abnot recognise the terms mentioned in this recommendation\u00bb, namely sexual orientation and gender identity.<\/p>\n

The discovery suggests that those who ruled Ireland<\/a> thousands of years ago were practitioners of incest<\/strong>, one<\/strong> of human society\u2019s most consistent taboos<\/span><\/strong>. The discovery is interesting precisely because it is so taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>. Where this almost universally agreed-upon taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> is most regularly flaunted, however, is among members of the socio-political elite.<\/p>\n

Arguably the most famous example of this is the Pharaohs of Egypt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A controversial 2015 University of Zurich<\/a> study<\/strong> of the remains of elite ancient Egyptians suggested that incest<\/strong> was very common among the pharaohs.<\/p>\n

Amenhotep I, one<\/strong> of the most famous of the kings of Egypt<\/a>, was the product of three generations of sibling incest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As Egyptologist Zahi Hawass has explained \u00abA king could marry his sister and his daughter because he is a god, like Iris and Osiris, and this was a habit only among kings and queens.\u00bb In some ways it\u2019s about preserving the purity and strength of their divine blood.<\/p>\n

Cassidy argues that something similar was happening among Neolithic Irish elites: It\u2019s \u00aba way that elites can separate themselves \u2014 they get to break a taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>, they get to break a social convention that others aren’t allowed to\u00bb.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One problem with the commonly believed \u00abroyals only\u00bb exception to incest<\/strong> is the data from Ptolemaic and Roman era Egypt<\/a> .<\/p>\n

In the Roman period<\/strong>, censuses reveal, brother-sister unions were common in Egypt<\/a> for the first three centuries A.D. .<\/p>\n

Naphtali Lewis further notes that far from being taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> such marriages were celebrated, publicly announced, and in all respects \u2018ordinary. \u2019 There is no ancient commentary on genetic flaws or unsuccessful relationships.<\/p>\n

In the rest of the Roman empire these kinds of unions were a social taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>; accusations of incest<\/strong> were levied against outsiders, including early Christians, as a sign of their moral depravity and barbarian nature.<\/p>\n

There are a number of socio-economic reasons that for four centuries elite Egyptians chose to marry their siblings or half-siblings.<\/p>\n

What the historical evidence<\/strong>\u2014from ancient Egypt<\/a> all the way into the present\u2014shows is that when it comes to marriage lots of people like to keep things in the family.<\/p>\n

The few questions I have concern the potential uniqueness of the Israeli-Egyptian case and the implications that Avey\u2019s analysis has for our understandings of the so-called nuclear revolution.<\/p>\n

Avey claims that the non-nuclear state\u2019s leaders do not abide by the nuclear taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> while challenging a nuclear-armed adversary.<\/p>\n

To support his argument, Avey examines Iraq<\/a>\u2019s confrontational policies toward the United States<\/a> in the 1990s, Israeli decision-making toward Egypt<\/a> in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Beijing\u2019s hostility toward the United States<\/a> in the 1950s, and Soviet-American tensions in the early days of the Cold War.<\/p>\n

And yet Avey, in presenting his main case studies, does not convincingly refute the nuclear taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> counterargument.<\/p>\n

Although Israel has never publicly acknowledged its nuclear arsenal, these weapons were acquired too recently for Israeli decision-makers to have fully internalized the nuclear taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> at the time of the October War.<\/p>\n

The Unique Case of Israel and Egypt<\/a><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s confrontation with its non-nuclear adversary Egypt<\/a> stands out as a peculiar case in the book.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

No other non-nuclear state that Avey examines in the substantive chapters of his book could have realistically attacked the homeland of its nuclear-armed opponent, with the possible exception of Egypt<\/a> and Israel due to their geographic proximity.<\/p>\n

Hence, looking at geographically contiguous rivals like Israel and Egypt<\/a> is important because such technical constraints might be less potent as an alternative explanation.<\/p>\n

Still, I had questions with regards to Avey\u2019s case study<\/strong> on Israel\u2019s confrontation with Egypt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Avey writes that Egyptian leaders \u00abbelieved that so long as they executed only limited campaigns, the benefits to Israel of using its nuclear weapons<\/strong> would be low.\u00bb Thus, \u00ab n 1973, Egypt<\/a> launched a limited offensive that was more expansive than in 1969-1970.\u00bb Avey admits that \u00abwhile Egypt<\/a> never planned to advance deep into the Sinai , Israel could not be expected to know that at the start of the hostilities.\u00bb Egypt<\/a> sought to use backchannels to convey its limited intentions, even though Egyptian President Anwar Sadat<\/a> ultimately rejected Soviet appeals for a ceasefire.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In light of the unique geographical proximity that this case features, one<\/strong> wonders whether Israel understood that Egypt<\/a> had only limited objectives when the October War began, not least because of the highly conflictual nature of Arab-Israeli relations at that time.<\/p>\n

Whether Israel understood Egypt<\/a>\u2019s limited aims is all the more important given that Israel had sought nuclear weapons<\/strong> in part because it believed its adversaries\u2019 aims were not limited.<\/p>\n

Notwithstanding my questions about the nuclear revolution and the Israeli-Egyptian case study<\/strong>, Avey wisely hews close to the evidence<\/strong> and never overstates his arguments.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia<\/a>, UAE and Egypt<\/a> yesterday rejected a statement by the Union of Arab Parliaments which called for stopping normalisation with Israel, the Shehab news agency reported.<\/p>\n

The representatives of the UAE and Egypt<\/a> also called for reviewing this recommendation, but the Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament Atef Al-Tarawneh insisted it maintain.<\/p>\n

During the meeting, Al-Ghanim criticised normalising ties with Israel, considering it a \u00abpolitical taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>\u00bb.<\/p>\n

However, Jordan<\/a> and Egypt<\/a> have had official relations with Israel for decades as they signed peace agreements with it.<\/p>\n

In March, several Egyptian women<\/strong> launched a campaign on social media asking that women<\/strong> be granted leave during menstruation, because of the psychological toll caused by the pain they feel, menstrual cycle is not shameful.<\/p>\n

The decision read that they were proud to introduce Egypt<\/a> on the list of 10 international countries that grant women<\/strong> leave during their periods, and that Egypt<\/a> is the first country in the Arab world to implementing the move.<\/p>\n

In March 2018, some Indian companies announced a change in their policies, giving women<\/strong> the right<\/strong> to paid leave on the first day of the menstrual cycle, with the aim of \u00abbreaking<\/strong> taboos<\/span><\/strong> about menstruation\u00bb.<\/p>\n

I spent the past three months of the trip in Africa<\/a>, visiting Egypt<\/a>, Morocco, Nigeria<\/a>, Kenya<\/a>, and Tanzania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I spent the past three months of my travels in Africa<\/a>, specifically in Egypt<\/a>, Morocco, Nigeria<\/a>, Kenya<\/a>, and Tanzania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia<\/a>, Turkey and Egypt<\/a> are the chief candidates.<\/p>\n

As for Turkey and Egypt<\/a>, they represent a lower proliferation threat, but, given the regional balance-of-power dynamics attendant to a nuclear Iran<\/a> and Saudi Arabia<\/a>, Ankara<\/a> and Cairo<\/a> would closely examine going nuclear.<\/p>\n

Egypt<\/a> already has some nuclear know-how from a previously abandoned nuclear weapon program, while Turkey, nominally a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally of the US, has decreasing trust in the US and NATO , as well as a nuclear power agreement with Russia<\/a> .<\/p>\n

The text of this article was generated by the Breaking The Silence<\/a> system that collected 8<\/strong> news articles posted on the web from January 2019 to September 2020 and clustered for the taboo subjects related to Egypt<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Identity to Self Expression: The Evolution of Tattoo Culture in Egypt Tattoo\u00a0culture in Egypt has a history that is not quite as well-known or talked about, perhaps in large part due to the fact that tattoos are considered a rather taboo subject in contemporary Egyptian society. To truly delve into how tattoo culture has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[163,46,149],"tags":[362,505,603,1146,330,507,503,504,1147,738,1142,627,1150,578,172,361,180,1143,69,1148,1149,1145,898,59,508,1144,506,92,598],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1390,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513\/revisions\/1390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}