Recently
I wrote about various incitements In these cases facts are misrepresented in order to make them fit one’s own objectives. This happens when political tensions occur in any country, including Egypt, but polemics here have gone further than in many other countries and the risk is that it might spiral out of control.
We can see the potential effects of rampant distortions in other countries. Lebanon during the civil war is an example. Certainly Egypt is no Lebanon, but we still can learn from the mechanisms used in Lebanon and make all efforts possible to reduce falsifications that would affect building a new Egypt.
I told As’ad Shaftarī, who was, at the time, the number-two man in the Christian military-security-intelligence force, the Falange, about our work at Arab-West Report and how difficult it often is to find the truth. As’ad responded that he was one of the people who had created difficulties for truth-seekers. In the 1980s he was deeply involved in twisting facts.
“I deliberately created spins and lies, especially filtering the data about our enemies,” he said. “I disregarded what did not help my cause and accepted, amplified, and spread data that confirmed my political vision of the others. I did this because I believed it was necessary to create fear of the other. Then I would turn fear into hate, and use hate to turn people in fighting machines.”
“News was spun to show the opponent in the worst light, exaggerating details and assigning motivations. I believed that to be necessary to create the fighting spirit against our enemies. I deeply regret what I did then.”
Today we hear about Muslim Brotherhood and Black Bloc militias. The Brotherhood denies having a militia, while the Black Bloc proclaims itself. I do not know the truth, but I know that there are people on the ground willing to manipulate facts because they believe it suits their aims. Thus we should be prudent as we sift through claims that come our way, investigating details where possible.
Dr. Najia Farahat, deputy chair of the Egyptian Moral Rearmament Association, responded to As’ad Shaftarī statements writing, “Much of what is happening now in Egypt could be quite similar. Satellite channels and social media have become a double sided weapon. The dangers of peddling information have become unlimited and able to be instantly propagated”.
We need to continue with our work of media reviews and thus contribute in our small way to keep Egypt from following in the footsteps of Lebanon.
