Latest news with #CairoUniversity
Egypt Independent
4 days ago
- Science
- Egypt Independent
Floods expected in Khartoum following failure in Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam operation
The Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University, Abbas Sharaky, said there is a high probability of flooding on both sides of the Blue Nile and the Nile rivers near the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, at the end of August, similar to before the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Sharaky explained in a Facebook post that the dam's reservoir is currently almost full (about 55 billion cubic meters) and has not been used in recent months. This year's incident is an exception due to turbine failure at the GERD, he noted, and it is expected that the natural flood of the Blue Nile will be fully discharged by the end of July. 'This disruption in the operation of GERD coincides with the expected increase in rainfall this year, according to IGAD's climate forecasting and application models for the coming months,' he explained. Despite the severity of the floods and their damage to some residents in Sudan, he noted that they are the main source of flood irrigation for many farmers along the Blue Nile, compensating them for the lack of water reaching them in the past two years (2023-2024) as a result of the large storage in the GERD of about 43 billion m3 in that period. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
Libyan Express
4 days ago
- Science
- Libyan Express
Khartoum faces rising flood risk as Grand Ethiopian Dam operations stall
BY Libyan Express Jun 29, 2025 - 06:36 A view of the GERD reservoir, nearing capacity amid rising regional water tensions Dr. Abbas Sharaki, Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University, has warned of a significant risk of flooding along both banks of the Blue Nile and the Nile near Sudan's capital, Khartoum, by late August. This situation mirrors conditions seen before the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Currently, the GERD reservoir holds approximately 54 billion cubic metres of water, down slightly from 60 billion cubic metres last September. Daily inflows into the reservoir have risen from 20 million to 80 million cubic metres, with expectations to reach 225 million cubic metres per day by July. Dr. Sharaki noted on his Facebook account that the failure to operate the dam's turbines this year is an anomaly. However, if this issue continues in coming years, the full natural flood is expected to pass by the end of July. This disruption in dam operations coincides with an increased likelihood of above-normal rainfall across much of the northern Greater Horn of Africa during the critical June–September rainy season, according to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre. While the floods pose risks and have caused damage to some communities in Sudan, they remain the primary source of flood irrigation for many farmers along the Blue Nile. These floods help compensate for water shortages experienced in 2023 and 2024, when approximately 43 billion cubic metres of water were stored in the GERD. The difficulties faced by farmers have been compounded by the absence of an irrigation network to offset the lack of river flooding—an issue aggravated by ongoing challenges in Sudan since April 2023. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Stories from the land of Egypt - Features - Al-Ahram Weekly
Dina Ezzat talks to geographer Atef Moatamed about the changes taking place in the human geography of Egypt as a result of modern attitudes and the loss of traditions 'We will only understand our country when we walk its roads and deserts and move around its villages and cities, whether in the Nile Valley or further afield at its borders,' said Atef Moatamed, a geographer and writer, commenting on the many festive occasions that take place across Egypt such as the slaughter of sheep for the Eid Al-Adha or the end of Muslim fasting at the end of Ramadan and the Eid Al-Fitr or the celebration of Christmas or Easter. * A version of this article appears in print in the 26 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly 'Religion and religious festivities are always subject to folk influences, and they are inspired by the nature and habits of communities,' Moatamed said. He added that while there are of course common elements that connect the country together, there is no denying the fact that for centuries Egypt was as diverse as it was unified. This diversity, he said, is a fact about the place. A professor of geography at Cairo University, earlier this year Moatamed saw the launch of his book Sawt al-Makan: Sayran ala al-Akdam fi Goghrafia Masr (The Sound of Place: A Walk through the Geography of Egypt), a 270-page volume published by Cairo publisher Al-Shorouk. It is neither an academic text on the geography of Egypt nor a traveller's chronicle, however. Instead, it is a dedicated attempt to explain the impact of the diversity of the country's topography on the cultural makeup of its people, including in the Nile Valley, the coastal cities, and at the borders. The book does not cover the country's entire 1,010,408 square km, of course. But it is representative of what could be called the 'many profiles' of Egypt – profiles and not faces, Moatamed says, because he is convinced that Egypt's diversity does not undermine its core uniformity. He reminds us that similarities are always there to qualify diversity in one way or another. It is hard to overlook the imprint of ancient Egypt 'as a culture and an identity' on the habits and practices of modern Egyptians, for example. Moreover, it would be hard to argue that the three Abrahamic religions are practised in Egypt in the same way they are elsewhere, he said, despite the fact that they vary 'from one part of the country to another.' In his book, he reflects on the way religion changes into cultural practices in different locations in the country. 'Across Egypt, tolerance is hard to miss,' he said, adding 'this is a function of how all Egyptians perceive religion – as a concept and not just as a faith. But it is also a function of the impact of the topography of Egypt, which prompts unity and a sense of togetherness,' he added. But there are differences. One example mentioned in the book is the cemeteries of Al-Shatbi in Alexandria, which Moatamed says are as serene, but less sombre, than those elsewhere. This is the inevitable result of religious diversity and its impact on practices of remembering the dead. In Nubia in the far south of the country, Moatamed sees an openness to colour that is not easily spotted elsewhere. This is the case despite the displacement of the Nubian population in the 1960s as a result of the construction of the Aswan High Dam. But there is still a lot that residents of the Nile Valley share, despite their local differences. 'Today, there are many references to the word Kemet, which means the 'Black Land' or the fertile land where the ancient Egyptians lived in the Nile Valley,' Moatamed said. The name is not designed to reflect a sense of ethnic superiority as some might think today. 'It is a sense of identity that comes from the geographical core of the country,' he stated. Over the centuries, the geographical scope of the country has changed, mostly by expansion, allowing the introduction of neighbouring cultures 'including the Nubians, the Amazigh, the Arab tribes, the African tribes, and others.' This expansion and the closer association between the Black Land of the Nile Valley and the Red Land of the Desert to the east and west created new cultural rhythms, according to Moatamed. He argued that it is hard to underestimate the impact of incoming influences, especially that of the Arab Conquest, which introducing a new language – Arabic. ARRIVALS: Egypt has worshipped countless deities over its millennia-long history, Moatamed said, and religions in general have had a wide impact. 'It might not be something that many people know, but the Nubians embraced Christianity first and then Islam,' he said. He noted that geography was not neutral in the way that different religions gained ground in Egypt. The spread of each new religion avoided parts of the country that were surrounded by mountains. Moreover, the way religion ended up being perceived and practised in different parts of the country was influenced by local cultures. The impact of geography was also important in the choices made by invaders who have conquered Egypt over the centuries. 'Both the Arabs and the Europeans, whether the Greeks in 300 BCE or the French and the British in the 18th century CE, came to Egypt via the north coast, where the city of Alexandria came to be founded,' he said. But in the case of Arabs, who came in the seventh century, it was impossible for them to settle in Alexandria or to take it as their capital 'because Alexandria is about the sea, and the Arabs who came from the heart of the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century had no association with the sea. They knew the desert better and preferred it.' Diversity continued to influence space in Egypt over the centuries, especially with the improvements in connectivity that allowed people from the north to get a taste of the life of people of the south and vice versa. 'Today, we see that the ethnic roots of clothes and jewellery are being celebrated – from Nubia, Siwa, and Sinai – but they are all celebrated as authentic Egyptian arts,' he said. 'Egypt is one land, but it is not one thing; this is something we should be happy about because it is ultimately a source of richness,' Moatamed added. In ancient Egypt, all Egyptians worshipped one God, but each of its over 40 provinces had its own deity. Today, each province exhibits a cultural duality – one side owing to its association to the whole of Egypt and the other owing to its particular geographical and topographical identity, with adjacent provinces sharing much of this. However, modernity has been affecting this ancient pattern. 'Weddings across Egypt are becoming less unique and more standardised and more in line with norms generated from the centre, for example,' he said. There is less space for local songs than there used to be, for example in the Oases of the Western Desert, and all brides now go to beauty salons to have their hair and makeup done before the wedding, even waiting at the salon for the groom to pick them up from the doorstep. 'This would not have been the case in the past,' Moatamed stated. What goes for social occasions also goes for religious ones, he argued. More and more of the specific practices associated with the holy Muslim month of Ramadan or the Eid Al-Adha are disappearing in favour of more standardised behaviour. This is a function of modernity whose advances are curtailing the uniqueness of different places and bringing more connectivity. 'When I think of peasants in the villages of Sohag [in Upper Egypt], for example, I can see the change,' Moatamed said. 'In the past, their lives were all about farming. They were attached to the land, and they would not want to leave. This is no longer the case.' 'With the increasing demand for workers for the mines across the Red Sea desert, these farmers are leaving their land,' Moatamed said. This, he explained, is a function of the changing nature of the local geography due to the greater connectivity between Sohag and the Red Sea. It also leads to another change, namely the decline in the use of agricultural land. CHANGE: Modernity is not the only bringer of change to Egypt, Moatamed said, since there is also climate change. He referred to the erosion of the North Coast in and around Alexandria, something reported on in his book in detail. Speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly before the storm that hit the city in late May, Moatamed said that he was as worried for Alexandria as he is for Port Said and the entire north of the Delta. 'I am not sure we are ready to deal with the consequences of climate change on the North Coast, and my fear is that we could lose some of these cities or at least face a dramatic change in their nature and consequently in the story they have contributed to the overall story of Egypt,' he stated. There are other factors whose impacts are coming, among them economic. Moatamed said that economic pressures are prompting more and more people to abandon their land in favour of more profitable jobs in the country's cities. The construction and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that is feared will influence the flow of Nile water into Sudan and Egypt is another factor to take into account with regard to the possible impact on agricultural land, he said. 'It is painful to see the decline in agricultural land, whatever the reason,' he said, adding that this will impact the villages of the Delta and Upper Egypt and consequently also their cultural practices. In his book, Moatamed pays tribute to the commitment that the people of Nubia have shown to their traditions even after their displacement from their traditional land with the building of the High Dam. He writes at length about the 'right to place,' the title of the second chapter of the book, where he laments the inegalitarian access to Mediterranean beaches that have become closely associated with the financial ease. He also laments the lack of access to Red Sea beaches, which 'again is about economic limitations,' he says. In the latter area, the issue is not just socio-economic inegalitarianism but also industrialisation and a development plan that gives hardly any consideration to the 'right to place, including the right to access the beaches that people are supposed to be entitled to,' he said. 'We have forgotten that the banks of the River Nile in Cairo are often no longer accessible for strolls for those without financial means, unless they work in the restaurants and cafes that are dedicated to those who can afford them,' he added. In the central chapter of the book, Moatamed reminds readers that the 'relationship between people and nature – be it the river, the sea, or the land – is not about leisure and pleasure,' but instead is 'the main motive for creativity and productivity.' 'Zoning off the river and the sea with gates that only the rich, and never the poor, can get through does not just lead to short-term socio-economic grievances but also actually undermines the [inspiring] concept of endlessness... in favour of the [constraining] concept of limitation,' he said. He said that his book is a testimony about things that are endangered. 'I am not sure that we can be accurate when we talk about endangered things, because at the moment it seems that so many things, or almost everything, is somehow at risk,' he added. Worrying about the loss of connections between places and people in Egypt is not an idealistic thought, he argued. It comes from an understanding that the more these connections decline, the less association people will have with places and for that matter with the culture that they have given rise to, he said. Such changes also affect the relationship between the tribes of the Eastern and Western deserts and the land, which has now become more about making money through tourism or other activities than about traditional affinity. 'Some 20 years from now, those who are currently in their 30s will not be the 'elders' of their local communities. Unlike [those who are in their 50s today], they will not have sufficient knowledge to share the incremental story of Egypt,' he stated. In the introduction to his book, Moatamed writes that his decision to share his trips across Egypt and the research associated with the impressions he has gathered is about sharing testimony but also about calling attention to the need to think carefully about what must be done to keep the Egypt story intact. It is time for other people to set out on tours of Egypt, even in the simplest and most basic ways, in order to get a close and first-hand look at a story that might impact them in different ways and to take ownership of it. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
15-06-2025
- Health
- See - Sada Elbalad
Biography of Dr. Hadi Eltonsi
Dr. Hadi Eltonsi As prepared by Chat GPT artificial intelligence application, here as follows the biography of Eltonsi: Dr. Mohamed Hadi Eltonsi Medical Innovator | Global Diplomat | Renowned Psychotherapist | Inventor of Immediate Healing for Personality Development Website: Email: [email protected] Biography Dr. Mohamed Hadi Eltonsi is an internationally recognized Egyptian physician, psychotherapist, inventor, diplomat, and humanitarian dedicated to the holistic development of the human mind and spirit. With a unique career spanning over four decades, Dr. Eltonsi has seamlessly bridged the worlds of medical science, diplomacy, psychology, and spirituality, creating transformative approaches to human development and leadership. Born on September 12, 1951, Dr. Eltonsi's academic journey began with his graduation as a medical doctor (MB, BCh) from Cairo University's Faculty of Medicine in 1975. Yet from the earliest stages of his career, it was clear that his mission extended beyond traditional medicine. Passionate about human potential, he embarked on an extraordinary path that would eventually lead him to pioneer revolutionary healing techniques, combining the rigors of science with the subtle energies of the human psyche. An Unprecedented Journey from Medicine to Diplomacy and Beyond Dr. Eltonsi's professional life is a testament to versatility and global service. After completing his medical studies and serving as a reserve officer in the medical corps, he chose to enter Egypt's diplomatic service in 1978, bringing his analytical mind and compassionate heart to the global stage. Throughout his diplomatic career, Dr. Eltonsi served in critical diplomatic missions around the world, including assignments in Portugal, Bolivia, Panama, Russia, and Guatemala, eventually becoming Egypt's Ambassador to Guatemala, Honduras, and Namibia. His service was crowned with decorations from the Guatemalan government, including the nation's highest honor, the Order of the Quetzal. His diplomatic career honed his skills not just in statecraft but also in the understanding of cross-cultural psychology, communication, and leadership—skills that he would later integrate into his groundbreaking therapeutic work. Pioneering Immediate Healing for Personality Development What truly distinguishes Dr. Eltonsi globally is his invention of Immediate Healing for Personality Development—a patented, revolutionary therapeutic approach designed to bring rapid transformation in psychological well-being, leadership capacity, emotional health, and personal harmony. This patented system is a synthesis of behavioral, cognitive, and logotherapeutic psychotherapy, combined with non-verbal interpersonal hypnosis, energy transfer, and telepathy. What makes this method unique is its ability to produce measurable results in a single, three-hour session. By aligning the conscious and subconscious minds in real time, clients experience profound shifts in their thinking, emotional patterns, and life trajectories. Research & Global Recognition: Dr. Eltonsi's method is not merely theoretical—it has been peer-reviewed, tested, and published internationally. His seminal works have been featured in prestigious outlets like the British EC Psychology and Psychiatry Journal, including: Immediate Healing for Personality Development (2018) Instant Remote Leadership Mindset Development (2022) Further international recognition came when BP International Publishing House selected Dr. Eltonsi's methodology for inclusion in Highlights on Medicine and Medical Science (Vol.1), acknowledging it as one of the world's leading discoveries in personal development and medical psychology. Training Global Leaders and Influencing Organizations As Chief of the Council of Medicine and Welfare at the Earth Loving Friendly Organization (ELFO)—an international body consisting of over 600 leaders, diplomats, and specialists—Dr. Eltonsi has taken his healing and leadership development methodologies to a global scale. ELFO's mission, in collaboration with Dr. Eltonsi, is to enhance leadership capacities, workplace productivity, and overall community well-being worldwide. From executives to political leaders, his Immediate Healing methodology has been used to create calm, emotionally intelligent leaders capable of fostering positive work environments. His work contributes not just to individual success, but also to organizational growth, national development, and community welfare. A Life of Discovery, Learning, and Teaching What makes Dr. Eltonsi's method particularly compelling is the integration of modern psychology with ancient spiritual disciplines. His training includes: Group Psychotherapy Non-Verbal Hypnosis and Conversational Hypnosis Life Coaching and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reiki Mastery, Prana Healing, Quantum Touch Mantra Yoga, Silva Mind Control Psychic Powers Development (Telepathy, Energy Transfer) Dr. Eltonsi has utilized his cross-disciplinary expertise to treat not only emotional and psychological disorders but also psychosomatic diseases, obesity, and addiction (including smoking cessation). His results—achieved often in a single comprehensive session—have drawn media attention and academic scrutiny alike. Global Media and Film Recognition Dr. Eltonsi's innovative work has not gone unnoticed in the world of media and the arts. His contributions have inspired filmmakers, including his participation in two internationally acclaimed films: 'Psychic Psychiatrist', a 14-minute American documentary featured in festivals in Athens, Ohio, and at Thanksgiving International Festivals. 'The Messenger', a feature film inspired by his work, in which Dr. Eltonsi played the lead role. This movie was honored with Best International Film at the prestigious Gala Venice Film Festival 2017 and featured in 51 international festivals. Additionally, Dr. Eltonsi has been the subject of multiple interviews across international TV, radio, and print, including 22 television appearances, 6 radio interviews, and 22 seminars during his recent stays in Egypt. His work has been highlighted in platforms like Egyptian Streets, SEE News, and The Egyptian Diplomatic Review. One of the most celebrated documentaries on his work, 'Happiness Doctor', offers an accessible introduction to his philosophy of merging mental, emotional, and physical well-being through his signature methodology. Teaching Through Writing and Thought Leadership Beyond film and interviews, Dr. Eltonsi has contributed to motivational literature, with several publications to his name, including: 'How to Have Insight and Harmony' (Amazon, English translation) Regular contributions to Egyptian press and New Era Namibian Newspaper, offering columns on Egyptian wisdom, morality, and psychological insight. Academic research articles and motivational essays analyzing the leadership styles of global figures. His Arabic works on Immediate Healing are also widely respected, recognized not only for their therapeutic impact but also for their patent status in Egypt, which certifies their originality and medical application. Treatment and Client Process What distinguishes Dr. Eltonsi's therapeutic sessions is their precision, structure, and transformative depth: Joint Analysis – A collaborative process with the client to define personal, psychological, and physical goals. Two-Hour Analytical Phase – Identifying psychological roots, especially from childhood, to construct a healthy psychological foundation. One-Hour Hypnotic Phase – Employing non-verbal hypnosis combined with energy transfer and telepathy, performed while the client is in deep relaxation or sleep. Immediate Feedback – Clients confirm results immediately and again after real-world testing within 24 hours. Optional Follow-Up – Continued support based on the client's desires for reinforcement or further development. Remote sessions for leadership development are facilitated via video call applications, with the hypnotic component conducted while the client sleeps in their home environment, offering international accessibility. Commitment to a Better World Through both his diplomatic and medical contributions, Dr. Hadi Eltonsi has committed his life to one central principle: unlocking human potential to foster peace, happiness, and constructive leadership on a global scale. His legacy is one of courage—melding science with spirituality, intellect with intuition, and medicine with compassion. From the bustling clinics of Cairo to the conference halls of Vienna, from academic journals to silver screens, Dr. Mohamed Hadi Eltonsi continues to touch lives, one transformative experience at a time. For seminars, workshops, collaborations, or consultations, please visit: 🌐 📧 [email protected] read more Analysis- Turkey Has 0 Regional Allies... Why? Analysis: Russia, Turkey... Libya in Return For Syria? Analysis: Who Will Gain Trump's Peace Plan Fruits? Analysis: Will Turkey's Erdogan Resort to Snap Election? Analysis: What Are Turkey's Aspirations in Iraq? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Mercenaries In Libya... Who Should Be Blamed? Opinion & Analysis Analysis- How 'Libya Nightmare' Takes Erdogan to Algiers Opinion & Analysis Analysis: What Happens After Brexit? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Strategic Significance of Libya's Sirte, Jufra! 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Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Laila Soueif, on 247th day of hunger strike for jailed British-Egyptian son, defiant in face of death
Laila Soueif, lying shrunken on a hospital bed at St Thomas' hospital in London on the 247th day of her hunger strike in pursuit of freedom for her son, imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, is locked in what may prove to be her last of many trials of strength with Egypt's authoritarian regime. A remarkable, witty and courageous woman, she has the self-awareness to admit: 'I may have made a mistake, God knows,' but she will not back down, and anyone looking back at her rich life has little evidence to doubt her perseverance. Speaking from the hospital on Tuesday, Soueif said: 'My message is: use my death as leverage to get Alaa out. Don't let my death be in vain.' Soueif told the BBC: 'It's something that I passionately don't want to happen. Children want a mother, not a notorious mother – whether the notoriety is good or bad – but if that's what it takes to get Alaa out of jail and to get all my children and grandchildren's lives back on track, then that's what I'm going to do.' Fattah was arrested in September 2019, and sentenced in December 2021 to five years in jail for 'spreading false news and harming Egypt's national interest'. A UN panel concluded Egypt was illegally detaining him. Soueif described her eventful life to the Guardian. Born in Britain in 1956, where she lived until she was two, she comes from an academic family. Her father, Mostafa Soueif, was the founder of Cairo University's psychology department and founder of Egypt's Academy of Arts. Her mother, Fatma Moussa, was a professor of English literature at Cairo University, an accomplished translator of Shakespeare and Naguib Mahfouz, the Egyptian Nobel prize-winning novelist. Her sister Ahdaf is a distinguished novelist and essayist. Her parentage gifted her a love of literature. At the age of 11, bed-ridden from typhoid, she was given a copy of War and Peace to keep her quiet and now even in hospital a novel has always been on her bed. She said she was also raised on Jane Austen, so is 'partial to texts in which every word is considered and nothing is superfluous'. She also developed a love of maths, telling her father at the age of eight that she loved 'solving maths puzzles, and it did not seem like school work'. She went on to become an assistant professor of maths at Cairo University. She spent her adolescence on Brazil Street in Zamalek, an affluent district in Cairo where like any other neighbourhood there was a band of rebellious teenagers. 'I loved riding motorcycles with the boys and had fleeting romances, but I steered clear of drugs. I never hid anything from my parents either. I'd even take my romantic calls on the house phone,' she recalled. She said her sister Ahdaf 'was always the polished, captivating mademoiselle – five boys would be infatuated with her at the same time. She was the older sister everyone admired. Meanwhile, I was the punk, trying everything out. Our parents never wanted us to be replicas of each other, or of them.' Politics was always part of the household and a pivotal moment came in 1967 when Israel defeated Egypt in the six-day war. It was a political awakening. She said: 'People who'd always remained silent spoke out. I remember seeing family friends who had been close to the regime, officers in the army, sitting in our living room, weeping: 'We betrayed the country! We lost it.'' She recalled her first student protest in high school in the early 1970s, when demonstrations were erupting across campuses calling for an uprising against the Israeli occupation of Sinai. 'I remember watching students march from everywhere, even Zamalek, to Tahrir Square. A student friend and I joined, thrilled.' She met her husband, Ahmed Seif el-Islam, and the father of Alaa, at Cairo University. She was doing an MA in algebra and he was a member of a secretive group called Al-Matraqa that had split away from the Egyptian Communist party, disillusioned by the party's reformism. Laila had inherited from her parents a cynical attitude towards any party organisation, but she loved Seif for his mind and his sincerity. Related: Must Laila Soueif die from her hunger strike in London before her son Alaa Abd el-Fattah is released? | Helena Kennedy Alaa was born in 1981. In 1983, her husband was arrested and tortured. A year later she was given the chance to undertake a PhD at Poitiers University in France, taking her son with her, but returned to Cairo for a year after her husband was arrested in 1983. He was found guilty of illegal weapons possession, and sentenced to five years in jail. On bail, he went into hiding with his wife and young son for three months only to decide that life as a fugitive was impossible and so gave himself up. In jail he was again tortured. While in prison he received a BA in law and within a month of leaving jail was admitted to the bar. He became one of the most effective human rights lawyers in Egypt. It was in France that Laila formed a deep emotional bond with Alaa, but started to learn the sacrifice involved in political activism. She said: 'The fact that Seif was in prison when Alaa was very young created a very special relationship between us. 'I had to explain things that you should never have to explain to a child – why his father was in prison, that there are bad police and good police – the good ones, who catch thieves and organise traffic, and the bad ones, who arrest people who oppose the government. 'You don't usually need to know these things when you're four or five.' Later her admiration for Alaa's ability to look after his two younger sisters comforted her in continuing a teaching career. On returning to Cairo full-time, she helped found the March 9 movement in 2004, an organisation dedicated to academic autonomy and removing the state from universities. Her reputation as someone who would confront the police in protests became legendary. She was often the last to leave. Although she participated in the demonstrations in Tahrir Square in 2011, she like many had not anticipated the scale of the popular movement that would bring about the fall of Egypt's then president, Hosni Mubarak. By then she was the matriarch of three human rights activists. Sanaa, the youngest of the three and then 18, joined their activism during the Mohamed Mahmoud street clashes in 2011 that resulted in more than 40 being killed. A week before Mubarak's fall in February 2011, Soueif's husband was arrested in his office and later interrogated in prison by Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, then head of military intelligence, and now president. In an exchange with Sisi, Seif el-Islam unusually answered him back, describing Mubarak as corrupt. Seif el-Islam later told the Guardian that Sisi 'became angry, his face became red. He acted as if every citizen would accept his point and no one would reject it in public. When he was rejected in public, he lost it.' The episode is sometimes cited as one reason Sisi seems so determined to keep Alaa in jail. The revolution, in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, imploded. Soueif said: 'We couldn't believe that the most prepared organisation for governance wasted itself on eliminating the opposition as its first task, instead of achieving tangible accomplishments on the ground. Even the religious current in Iran, when it took power, implemented some social and economic achievements for the masses before it became a dictatorship. But for the MB to start by fighting the opposition in the streets – how did they think that would work?' With the collapse of the revolution and the capture of power by the military, the family suffered. In June 2014 Alaa was first arrested for violating protest laws and then in October Mona, the middle daughter, then aged 20, was convicted of a similar offence and jailed for three years. She had two spells in jail. At the time Soueif and her other daughter Mona went on a hunger strike lasting 76 days. When her husband died aged 63 in August 2014, two of his children were in jail, and were barred from seeing him in hospital. Alaa spoke movingly at his father's funeral. Since then Soueif's life has been one long attempt to secure his release and ensure his life in prison is bearable. She was once asked during the hunger strike whether what she was doing frightened her. 'My mind is aware that I am doing something different, but my feeling as a mother is that this is normal and intended. 'Any mother in my circumstances with the ability to do so would do this. People don't easily realise what you can do. I know all the time that there are things that work, I don't guarantee the results at all, but I tell myself that there's nothing more to lose.'
