MENA House: The Media and "Solving Corruption" in Egypt

There has been a journalist's revolution in Egypt.The freedom to publish stories exposing event has occupied TV news channels all over the country and the Middle East.

Private television stations such as Al Hayat, Al Masreya, Mehwar, and Dream are the most watched by Egyptian viewers.  Every evening from 7 p.m., the "information" programmes begin. They can last anything from 30minutes to two hours. All contiain references to "events"; often the stories will consist of some element of corruption.

MENA House: Ashraf Marwan Update — “No Evidence for Suicide”

On 16 June, on 90 Minutes on Mehwar,  Mo’tez el Demerdash asked, "Can the media solve corruption?"

To discuss that question, El Demerdash invited three editors-in-chief of leading newspapers in Egypt and the Middle East: Magdi Galad of Al Masry al Youm, Mohammed Salah of the London bureau of Al Hayat, and Momtaz Al 'Ot of Akhbad al Youm.

Initially, the topic was access to medical treatment in Egypt.  Whilst the Egyptian Government provides free treatment, sometimes a contact is needed to obtain medical care.  Mohammed Salah pointed out that, in provinces in Upper Egypt, an individual had to go to the Mayor of the Province and then the Mayor informed the local hospital that his visitor had to be admitted.

Magdi Galad countered that it is not your basic human right, if you are poor, just to get sick.  El Demerdash asked, "Do you mean that if you are below the poverty line your chances of gaining access to medication and medical treatment is slim?" All in the room nodded in agreement.

El Dermedash then asked, "Can we as journalists fight corruption?"

Mohammed Salah vehemently argued that, in recent years, corruption has become more prominent and no one is innocent of it. For example, if you are pulled over while driving, you can give a "small tip" and be on your way.  When going to an office to complete a transaction, in many places it is necessary to pay a small sum on the side to complete the work.

Magdi Galad appeared to agree with Salah, but Momtaz al ‘Ot disapproved of the other journalists and newspaper,s claiming that they were out to get the Government.  He asked, "Why do the newspapers and journals not cover the good news, for example when there’s a pay rise in some national companies and civil service jobs? A pay rise of 60EGP to 120EGP is a significant increase, thus it should be covered."  Mohammed Salah responded, "Whether the individual receives 60EGP OR 120EGP, both figures are below the poverty line.  So it’s neither news-worthy nor good news for that matter."

Al ‘Ot further attempted to prove his point by claiming that corruption is being fought, since key statesmen who have committed crimes are tried at the high court and do not escape the justice system. Both Salah and Galad responded that, while there are individuals being brought to court on corruption charges, "too many others" are escaping. So the media should attempt to provide a check and balance by investigating and clarifying events that might otherwise be brushed under the carpet.

When presenter El Demerdash asked, "Can corruption ever be fought in society?", Galad replied that the effort must come from the top, as this would have a ripple effect through the rest of the culture.  (This is a contrast to the view of Mohammed el Baradei, a likely candidate for President in the next election, who said that corruption must be fought from the bottom of society through to the top.)

Whilst the heated debate continued between the three editors and the presenter, the question remained: Just how effective is the impact of such media outbursts on eradicating corruption?

MENA House: Was Egyptian Billionaire Marwan (Suicide? Murdered?) an Israeli Spy?

On 27 June 2007, Ashraf Marwan --- leading industrialist, aide to one Egyptian President, married to the daughter of another --- died, allegedly in a fall from a balcony.

The initial coroner's report stated that Marwan had jumped and committed suicide. However, Mona Abdel Nasser, Marwan’s wife and the daughter of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser, alleged that her husband was killed by Mossad, the Israeli secret service. Nine days before his death, Marawan supposedly told his wife that he felt he was being watched by Mossad agents and could be assassinated at any moment.

Mona Abdel Nasser also claimed that Marawan could not have thrown himself off the balcony, since he suffered from joint problems and struggled in walking, let alone climbing. In addition, Marawan’s shoes were not found at the crime scene, even though he supposedly always wore special support footwear for his condition.

Was Marwan murdered?  If so, why and by whom?

To consider this, let's take a look at the man.

Ashraf Marwan came from a financially stable family, a parallel to the aristocrats of Egypt prior to the 1952 revolution.  His father was one of the highes- ranking officers in the Egyptian military.  Later Ashraf Marawan served as the chief of staff and personal secretary to 'the Pharaoh' President, Anwar Sadat, and married the daughter of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

A trusted patriot and a leading industrialist could not betray his motherland. Or could he? 

Allegations of Marwan's allegiance surfaced in September of 2002.  A London-based Israeli historian, Ahron Bregman, published a book claiming that Marwan was Israel's "master spy" in Cairo.

The next year Howard Blum, citing the head of Israeli military intelligence during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, General Eli Zeira, claimed that Marwan had communicated with the Israelis since a meeting in London in 1969.  The Israeli intelligence service, Mossad,would pay Marwan £50,000 each visit. Marwan often met directly with Zvi Zamir, the head of Mossad, and Marwan's conversations were taped and transcribed for the Israeli Prime Minister.

Was Ashraf Marwan an Israeli spy?  Discussing the matter on Al Taba'a il Oola (The FirstPrint), Ahmed el Meslemani argued that the suggestion was ludicrous, pointing to Marwan's financial stability and patriotic background. The Egyptian intelligence services also were far from completely oblivious to Marwan's movements. Even President Hosni Mubarak had openly stated that Marwan was a patriot and trustworthy.

Still, El Meslemani's response runs up against the widespread theme in Egyptian television soap operas and films, based on true stories, that Mossad "sometimes" recruited Egyptian spies: During tsummer school holidays, Egyptian students would travel to Europe to work, earn some money, and gain some experience. During this time that Mossad would target the students and lure them into liaising with them.

Yet those same TV programmes and films, from the famous Abla Kamil'to soaps "Ra'afat il Hagan" and "Harb il Gawasees" (The War Between Secret Agents), put up an alternative story. In some cases, the Egyptian Intelligence services would be aware of the Israeli manoeuvres and use the students as double agents. Encouraging the students to gain the trust of Mossad, Egyptian intelligence would give the students supposedly vital information on topics such as military activity to pass to Mossad, tracking and sometimes deceiving the Israelis.

So Ashraf Marwan, a suicide or murder victim? An Israeli spy or Egyptian double agent?