Iran & Egypt: Two Different Attitudes
These two signals indicated that the Egyptian government is reluctant to establish relations with Iran, especially when Mr. Nabil Elaraby, the Egyptian foreign minister, announced that the new Egypt will not have any feud with any country but relations with Iran would have to wait until the parliament and the new government were formed. In other words, this relation would have to wait until the end of the year 2011.
The mentioned Egyptian delegation met with many Iranian officials during their visit. This writer met with some members of this delegation and became aware of their points of view. Some of these delegates released their evaluation of this trip in articles or interviews upon their return to Egypt.
Dr. Mostafa Najjar, a member of the Tahrir Square Youth Revolution and one of the founders of the newly established Al-Adl party, in an interview with the “Yomo Sabe” Egyptian newspaper said that the Iranians would regularly rely on a few points; first that the Egyptian revolution was the continuation of the Iranian revolution, second that the Egyptians were going to trade with the US on their Revolution, and third that the Egyptian revolution was not a real revolution because it lacked leadership. These and other such remarks enraged the Egyptian delegation. He said that “we told the Iranians that the Egyptian revolution has nothing to do with Iran’s Islamic revolution. Your revolution was religious and clergymen were its leaders, while our revolution is a popular revolution against oppression. The Egyptian youth are its leaders, and people from all walks of life including Christians and Muslims participated in it”.
In response to the statements of Iranian leaders who called Mubarak a corrupt mercenary of the US, another delegate wrote that whether good or evil, Mubarak is a domestic issue to the Egyptians and has nothing to do with the Iranians, and they are not allowed to say foul words in regards to him or Mohammad Anwar Sadat. Wael Al Barashi, an outstanding Egyptian journalist and a member of the mentioned delegation, has also commented on the Iranian position in regards to Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, saying that, “ the reason behind the early victory of the Egyptian revolution is its grandeur and the presence of all Egyptians in it, and this should not be criticized.”
Professor Jamal Aldin, an outstanding professor of Persian language and literature who has translated various books from Persian to Arabic, furiously responds to Mr. Rahimpour Azghadi’s remarks as the philosopher of the Islamic Revolution and says, “his remarks on dealing with the Egyptian revolution with the Americans were very offensive. Also, the Egyptian revolution is very different from the Iranian revolution; the Egyptians protested against oppression and corruption and I hope they will achieve their revolutionary aims. We are still at the beginning of this path and are currently struggling with unemployment. We will never set gallows in the streets of Cairo and execute our opponents”. These kinds of remarks were echoed by other university professors in the Egyptian delegation.
Nevertheless, we should admit that Iran and Egypt have two different ways in dealing with some issues. The Egyptians detest being humiliated and do not like pompous behavior. While living in Egypt, I constantly heard the word “Ghtrese”. This word was used to describe immigrants who had gone to rich Persian Gulf countries for work, which connoted an arrogance that humiliated others.
The Egyptians are extremely patriotic, to the extent that they do not allow foreigners to say derogatory words even about their dictators. They have rejected their oppression and revolted against it, but they do not consider the same right for any foreigner. Their view of Mohammad Anwar Sadat, the former Egyptian president, is very different from ours. That’s why they cannot stand our naming of one of our streets for the Sadat’s assassin, Khalid Islambouli, and they demand that we change it.
The Egyptians are people of tolerance and compromise, and welcome those who are modest like themselves. A historical overview proves this fact. When Shiekh Mohammad Taqi Qummi went to Egypt, he was able to gain a high position among Egyptians with this attitude, and established the Dar- al-Taghrib. Today the Egyptians support any one who calls for Islamic unification; however, they have stopped the activity of some Shiite and Wahabi extremist groups when they thought that they intended to change the religion of the Egyptian people.
Unlike Iranians, the Egyptian people are very easy to satisfy, and this has brought psychological comfort to them. They do not obey driving rules very much. You might witness someone driving the opposite way in a narrow street but others easily let him pass by. They are very lenient in driving accidents. In some cases an accident dispute is solved only by saying “peace be upon the Prophet” or, “sorry”. It is nearly impossible to witness a street fight because of these events. Their tolerance is incomparable to us. They practice the commands of Quran more than us because of their familiarity with this holy book. For example, they never chanted “Death to Mubarak” during their revolution, and only said that Mubarak must go. This stemmed from their belief in the Quranic verse, which says that “you shall not insult even those who are pagans”. This while some of us see our livelihood in the deaths of others. The Egyptian women are mostly covered but some are not; however the majority of them pray, fast, and read the Quran. The interesting point is that no one forces them to act this way.
The Egyptians are hospitable, simple, and loving people. They have a proverb that says, “Any stranger who drinks from the Nile will come back to Egypt.”
Recommendations: there are a few months left until the end of 2011; therefore it is recommended that instead of insisting on establishing immediate relations with Egypt, our officials should begin a deep study of this country. They can benefit from the help of university professors and publish their findings so that this relation is established in the near future based on a mutual understanding and not a necessity. As the Quran says: “'O people! We created you from one man and one woman and made you branches and tribes that you may recognize one another. Undoubtedly, the most respected among you in the sight of Allah is he who is more pious, verily, Allah is knowing, Aware.” [i]