3arabawy

Egyptian blogger and activist Hossam el-Hamalawy is an outspoken proponent of human rights, labor movements, and free speech. His blog, 3arabawy, features daily updates in English about the ongoing struggle for equality and human rights in Egypt.

In an op-ed he wrote for the Los Angeles Times, he addressed the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq:

The fall of Baghdad, as President Bush had expected, sent shockwaves throughout the region. Some say, however, that if the American president thought the domino effect would be one of democratization, he is likely to be mistaken. Many Arabs across the region are not savoring America's triumph and instead, they argue, Muslims are more likely to rally around the Qur'an and the Kalashnikov to provide an answer to the American tanks on the streets of Iraq's capital.

"War has shifted the fortunes of Islamists," said Emad Shahin, professor of political science at the American University in Cairo. Before the war, they were on the defensive globally as a result of September 11. Now, the world's attention is focused on America's might-makes-right policies. "Bush became the bad guy. The Islamists won some sympathy."

Political Islam, particularly in Egypt, received a shot in the arm. "War has created favorable conditions for recruiting more cadres," said Muhammad Salah, Cairo bureau chief of Al Hayat and expert on fundamentalist groups.

In times of crisis, Salah argues, people seek refuge in religion and God, especially when they feel they are confronting an invisible enemy who can target them using laser-guided bombs fired hundreds of miles away.

"Numbers of worshippers have indeed increased a lot before and during the war in our mosques," said Ayman Al Sebae, a 22-year-old member of Tabligh Wa Al Dawa (Summoning and Preaching), Egypt's largest preaching network. "People do not find answers for what's happening. But now they understand that returning to religion is the solution."

Read his blog at arabist.net/arabawy/.