Egypt: Soccer Distracts from Politics

The ongoing soccer feud between Egypt and Algeria continues to simmer, as many start probing the conflict for its political implications. The Arabist quotes Al Shurouq editor Hany Shukrallah who argues (in Arabic) that social and political life in the Arab wold has weakened to such an extent that people “search for easy contests, areas in which to let loose our stored up anger and frustration and feelings of humiliation, as long as this costs us no effort, and exposes us to no punishment.”

Meanwhile, Dalia Ziada at Bikya Masr is happy that Egypt lost the match against Algeria, otherwise the Egyptians would be distracted by soccer at a pivotal point in its political history. Next year, the parliamentary elections will determine who will write the laws that will govern the all-important presidential election in 2011. It is this struggle over constitutional amendments that is “the real battle which Egyptians should pay enough attention to,” not some over-hyped sporting event that acts as a “drug of patriotism.” The question remains, however, how “to mobilize the people again to the new cause” of political reform.

Finally, Baher Ibrahim explores the recent increase in sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians in Egypt.