By ZEKE MILLER AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will host Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White...

Global News Through a Greek Lens
Global News Through a Greek Lens
The joint statement issued by Egypt, Greece and Cyprus during the Cairo trilateral meeting urged Syria’s new leadership to uphold its responsibilities under international treaties, warning that preferential agreements with Turkey would carry consequences. The statement also emphasized that the new leadership of the country must demonstrate in practice its respect for international law and its protection of minority rights. Naturally, it is a considerable challenge for leaders shaped by totalitarian ideologies – whether political or religious – to embrace pluralism in all its dimensions. Pluralism, the cornerstone of liberal democracy, is indivisible and non-negotiable, functioning fully and universally.
A specific objection is frequently raised: How can a dictator speak of democracy and pluralism? What credibility does Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have, given that he overthrew Egypt’s elected president? While these objections may appear reasonable, they are historically uninformed and, with due respect, naive and simplistic. Former president Mohamed Morsi – a top figure in the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood – was indeed elected president of Egypt after the fall of Hosni Mubarak, albeit with a narrow majority. Morsi immediately sought to amend the constitution to transform Egypt into an Islamic democracy, as it were, with Sharia law as the foundation of its legal system. This move ignited a massive uprising among Egyptians, with Tahrir Square once again becoming the focal point of anger for millions of citizens. Amid this wave of protests, Morsi’s government collapsed as several ministers resigned. Politically speaking, therefore, Morsi was not overthrown in a coup; his administration disintegrated under the weight of popular dissent, as most Egyptians desired a secular state. The military, under Sisi, stepped in to fill the power vacuum and preserve Egypt’s secular character.
Self-styled liberal critics often highlight the presence of thousands of political prisoners. The response is that Egypt faces ongoing Islamist terrorism, with security forces suffering hundreds of casualties, particularly in the Sinai region, which borders Gaza. These “political” prisoners are largely akin to the Islamist detainees in northeastern Syria, who are held under Kurdish forces’ guard. Curiously, there seems to be little outcry over those ISIS militants and their affiliates.
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