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rug

(82,333 posts)
Mon Dec 15, 2014, 10:59 AM Dec 2014

Closure Of ‘Satanic Cafe’ Shows Egypt’s Atheists Are Next In Line For Crackdown

“If you are atheist and you heard this announcement, it was like the State saying we are coming for you next.”



Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

posted on Dec. 15, 2014, at 7:27 a.m.
Maged Atef
BuzzFeed Contributor

CAIRO — The Passiles cafe in downtown Cairo is either a den of atheists or a site of devil-worshipping — depending on who you ask.

Just before noon on Sunday, Egyptian government officials flanked by police raided Passiles, and boarded its doors. The cafe was popular with customers who could step away from the bustling Cairo stress to sip tea and while the hours away. But many in the police didn’t believe it was entirely innocent. In an interview with the Mada Masr news site, local police chief Gamal Mohie, said, “There was no sign reading ‘atheists’ cafe’ outside, as nobody would put up such a public announcement. However, it was popularly known as a place for Satan worship, rituals and dances. There were also Satanic drawings at the entrance.”

BuzzFeed News visited the site, and saw a small swastika spray-painted outside the front door, but no other indication of “satanic drawings.” No one, said locals, ever knew it as a place for atheists, devil worshippers, or any other group.

“It’s a popular downtown spot, but there is really nothing special about it. That’s the thing about Egypt today, you don’t know why one place gets raided and another place doesn’t, everyone is on edge, everyone feels like they are in danger from authorities,” said Mohamed Walid, a Cairo University student who frequented Passiles. He, like others, said they were now avoiding the area.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/magedatef/closure-of-satanic-cafe-shows-egypts-atheists-are-next-in-li

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Closure Of ‘Satanic Cafe’ Shows Egypt’s Atheists Are Next In Line For Crackdown (Original Post) rug Dec 2014 OP
It's a military dictatorship. What do you expect? NOT cracking down on outsiders? DetlefK Dec 2014 #1
“It’s obvious that the state has gone crazy." rug Dec 2014 #2
Egypt: Police Destroy a Café of Atheists in Cairo Mosby Dec 2014 #3

Mosby

(16,158 posts)
3. Egypt: Police Destroy a Café of Atheists in Cairo
Mon Dec 15, 2014, 07:39 PM
Dec 2014

Egypti’s Youm7 quoted the head of Hay Al Abidin Jamal Mohi as saying that the café was located on Avenue Al Falaki in downtown Cario, and “it was a resort for atheists and Satanists who were spreading wrong ideas about religion.”

Jamal Mohi went on to add that local authorities decided to destroy the café after they received many requests from residents who live the café.

“Residents said that each midnight, atheists and Satanists in the café would start performing sort of satanic rituals,” he explained.

Mohi also revealed that the local authorities destroyed the café amid local women’s ululations of joy.

On the other hand, decision to destroy the café, on the other hand, angered some Egyptian social media activists, who condemned closing the café and considered it a violation of the freedom of beliefs.

Ayman Ramzy, an Egyptian atheist and social media activist, told El Wady News that that café does not impact the beliefs of the Egyptian citizens.

Ramzy went on to add that local authorities should worry about the critical issues that Egypt is facing, such as the growing number of homeless children, rather than violating the individual freedoms of Egyptian citizens.

He explained that the number of atheists is on the rise in Egypt due to the awareness of youth and the behavior of religious institutions.

It is worth mentioning that a recent study released by the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta (Fatwa House) revealed that Egypt has the highest number of atheists in the Islamic world, estimating their number at 866 people.

http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2014/12/146905/egypt-police-destroy-a-cafe-of-atheists-in-cairo/

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