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 January 25 Revolution at a Crossroads, says Sabahi |
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| 18-Apr-2011 |
| As Fayoum University plays a major role in spreading awareness among the youth about the impacts of the January 25 Revolution on the Egyptian society, Fayoum University hosted a seminar titled " January 25 Revolution at a Crossroads". The seminar was given by the political activist and editor-in-chief of Al- Karama newspaper Hamdeen Sabahi and member of the Egyptian Bar Association Saad Aboud. Professor Ayman Shahin, dean of Faculty of Engineering attended the event, too. Held under the auspices of President of Fayoum University Professor Ahmed El Gohary, at the Hall of Said Soliman Hall on Monday, April 18, 2011, the event was jointly organized by the Community Service and Environment Development Sector and the Future Leaders Society, based at Faculty of Engineering. Opening the seminar, Professor Shahin welcomed the highly-esteemed guests, extending special thanks to Vice-President for Community Service and Environment Development Professor Abdul Hamid Abdul Tawab for embracing such a fruitful meeting. Addressing the audience, Shahin talked about the innovation and freedom as being intertwined. "Innovation cannot flourish but in an environment full of freedom and now Egypt is conducive for innovation and creativeness. We are able to build our future using all what we boast. It's time for work and production as each nation is built by its people, not by its natural resources," he added. Taking the floor, Aboud spoke about the achievements and merits gained as a result of the January 25 Revolution, pointing out that this momentous revolution paved the ways for a free dignified life for all Egyptians. "January 25 was such a decisive moment in that nation’s history after a three decade long life of oppression and injustice. Those young people who have been able to topple the regime are now responsible for building a new Egypt based on freedom, democracy and justice," he said. Following, Sabahi confirmed that building a democratic state is the corner stone in shaping Egypt's future. For the sake of rebuilding our homeland, there must be a national unity in which diversity among all forces is valued and respected. There is an urgent need for redistribution of wealth, establishment of justice, and uprooting poverty. These desired goals can be realized through development, production, and benefiting from our resources. Above all, stability of the national decision is one of the most fundamentals of building the future of Egypt, he stated. Sabahi also presented his three-tier approach to achieve progress in Egypt. The first pillar of Sabahi's approach is drawing out a new social contract, establishing a democratic regime that respects civil freedoms, social justice and equal distribution of wealth and adopting a foreign policy based on national interests. In other words, any real change to occur in Egypt must witness a true move on the democratic level. This starts with a true political change that thus can open the door towards drafting a new constitution serving as a social contract for all Egyptians, a constitution in with every single Egyptian knows his rights and duties, allowing all public freedoms, and ensuring complete separation between judicial, executive and legislative authorities. He also called for big amendments in the regulations governing exercising of political rights and voting with the aim of conducting free and transparent elections in all levels, starting with student's union elections in schools and universities, moving to electing universities' presidents, governors, popular councils and parliamentary elections. The second pillar of Sabahi's approach is social justice among the Egyptians. According to him, the political change must go hand in hand with a social change, in which the state spares no effort to meet its citizens' needs, namely good pay, high-quality education, better health care services, job opportunities, affordable housing and good means of transport. The third pillar of Sabahi's approach is Egypt's leading role in the Arab World. "Egypt shall return to its Arab sphere to regain its leading position in the Arab world, develop relations with strategic neighbors", he said. At the end of the seminar, there was a lively give and take between the guests and the university students. |
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