Ultraconservative Islamists make gains in Egypt

It's interesting how the uprisings in the Arab world were reported as being motivated by a desire for more democratic governments and personal freedoms, yet all of these countries - Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, and now Egypt and Lybia are being rewarded with less democracy and fewer freedoms. Kind of ironic, isn't it?

'Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone... -Joni Mitchell

Yappari.

If Shariah and a return to the dark ages is what they want let em have it. But why did the boneheads in the Obama admin give Egypt 200 million dollars to conduct these elections? Who does Obama serve?

It's interesting how the uprisings in the Arab world were reported as being motivated by a desire for more democratic governments and personal freedoms, yet all of these countries - Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, and now Egypt and Lybia are being rewarded with less democracy and fewer freedoms.

It was to be expected, unfortunately. Changes and reforms are either for the better or for the worse.

Losers

@Pamelot, nice Joni Mitchell reference, but the rest of that song's chorus "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot" is probably more relevant to the nuclear "no-go" zone in Fukushima, Japan. Do ultraconservatives anywhere in the world give a second thought to environmental safety? Egypt has been closer to "parking lot" than "paradise" for a long time now.

Told you so. It is not as if Obama, Sarkozy and the other Western leaders so eager to promote the "Arab Spring" were not warned about this.

My heart goes out to the Coptic minority in Egypt.

Equality:

" It's interesting how the uprisings in the Arab world were reported as being motivated by a desire for more democratic governments and personal freedoms, yet all of these countries - Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, and now Egypt and Lybia are being rewarded with less democracy and fewer freedoms. Kind of ironic, isn't it? "

It is exactly what independent observers had been predicting. The uneducated muslim masses will always vote for the parties promising more islam. And since islam must never be criticised, openn discussion of the problem with islamic rule can not be addressed. And since freedom of opinion (plus constitutional checks and balances) are necessary for a functioning democracy, what you get is theocratic dictatorship under the label of democracy.

And now Obama, Sarkozy, and the other fools want to repeat this mistake in Syria.

The Egyptian majority has spoken so if the majority Muslims want to get anywhere they must also respect their religious minority groups!! Meaning Christans Jews non Sunni Muslims etc...

Egptian,Tunisian or another Arab spring country already in dark age age without syariah law. they're what best for their country and stop to show bigotry minded by insulting shariah

Some one above hit it on the head.

Uneducated masses.

People should prove they have an education before being allowed to vote.

Actually in the news today I see that many people with courage in Tunisia are standing up to the fundamentalists and refusing to back down in the face of Islamist ultra-conservative demands. (F-M segregation and wearing of veils in university classrooms, etc.)

There is quite a strong backlash with demonstrations in support of freedoms which they have won and treasure. People in Egypt and Libya are said to be watching events there closely.

Told you so. It is not as if Obama, Sarkozy and the other Western leaders so eager to promote the "Arab Spring" were not warned about this.

Of course you told us so. You are the expert in all things middle east. You would rather the US support thugs like Mubarak or even Qaddafi. Anything but the word "Islam" being mentioned.

I like the vicious negative slant to this article. "Ultraconservatives" "Radicals" Nice to see balanced reporting from the international press.

Let see how well the do in getting the military to hand the keys over....

You can actually be Islamist and democratic. Take a look at Hamas. Highly transparent and democratic yet labeled terrorists. Who is it that do not accept freedom? Who was it that paid non free dictators? USA was doing the same things in Latin America in the 70s. Destroying democracies to stop communism in countries such as Chile. And they talk about freedom, how moronic.

Dotobock, don't forget that Chile ended up as a success story in the end. Wildly successful, in fact. Free, prosperous and -for what it is worth- democratic.

“We want democracy and what they want is anything but democratic,” said Amir Fouad, a Coptic Christian who trained as an engineer but drives a taxi because he can’t find another job. “They want Egypt to be like Saudi Arabia, all Islamic.”

He is correct, the true NATIVE Egyptians are the Coptic Christians which make up 15-30% (they fudge results with census)

It is actually good that the Military are still in power, during Nasser's time they were very anti brotherhood.

Egyptians arent 'arab' the language came into the country from foreigners..

Are you serious? Do not forget that Chile was democratic until Salvador Allende was assassinated and placed by a fascist dictator thanks to USA but yes, I guess after thousands of people kidnapped and murdered and decades of military dictatorship Chile was a success. Kind of like how the Nazis were a success because they were able to create Israel.

My point is that, USA like to interfere and come with all kinds of shallow biased propaganda for the name of freedumb. Now, you have Americans here ranting on about Islamists while they have popular support. Is it not time to respect people´s freedoms?

Egyptians arent 'arab' the language came into the country from foreigners..

And Americans aren´t people because they were outcasts from Europe such as English teachers in Japan.

@Dotobock

Read more into Egyptian history.. the true Egyptian language that is legacy of Pharoahnic time is Coptic.. the language of Arabic came from foreigners who came into the country.. so everyone who speaks English is anglo saxon are they? speaking a language doesn't mean you come from that origin, especially due to colonial times and influence..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copts

Point being is they aren't ethnically 'arab' yes islam came to the country but the whole country isn't muslim and the native Egyptians are Coptic Christians, there is all faiths in Egypt actually.

They keywords being plastered by the media is often very simple minded and silly, the media has no knowledge on nothing but fallacy and distorted views on the truth..

*The

"ultracoservative Islamists"

They're nuts, they forbid women to wear short shorts or short skirts and boots.

yet all of these countries - Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen, and now Egypt and Lybia are being rewarded with less democracy and fewer freedoms

The new government hasn't even taken power, so it's premature to compare next year's democracy to last year's.

Serrano:

" "ultracoservative Islamists" They're nuts, they forbid women to wear short shorts or short skirts and boots. "

If that was all they want, we would not need to lose sleep. But it isn-t.

" The new government hasn't even taken power, so it's premature to compare next year's democracy to last year's. "

Oh yes, sure. We do not need to look how Sharia rule has worked and works in other societies around the world. We should pretend there is no precedence for this. Isn´t one definition of insanity to try the same action over and over, expecting a different result each time?