Tuesday
Jul242007
Moustache vendetta
By 
Issandr El Amrani | Egypt
Issandr El Amrani | Egypt
Am in calm, clean Morocco for the summer, but this story made me miss Egypt:
When an elder was kidnapped in a clan dispute in conservative southern Egypt, the al-Arab family's worst fears were soon realised -- they received a package containing his moustache, local media reported on Sunday.Return to semi-regular blogging schedule soon.
The man himself was returned uninjured, but the use of the new shaving tactic sent shockwaves through the town of Mahrusa, near Luxor, 650km south of Cairo, where a man's honour is measured by the size of his moustache, the al-Gomhuria daily said.
Reader Comments (8)
Best to stay in 'clean and calm' Morocco because civilised Egypt ain't waiting for a speedy return
i have been twice to morocco ( for a month each) and the expression clean and clam sadly applies to three kinds of places 1- where westernized elite live in Rabat 2- where rich westerners live in Marrakech 3- desolate areas in el atlas. So, unless you were in your home country as a tourist, there is a small chance that you can enjoy calm and cleanliness for that long duration.
Don't mean to offend you Masri nationalists out there, but pretty much anywhere in Morocco (and for that matter the rest of Morocco) is calmer than Cairo (and therefore much more boring), and considering that it is also one of the most polluted cities in the world I feel quite safe in saying Morocco (well, Rabat, where I live) is also cleaner. And not all Moroccans are poor or extremely rich, there's a middle class just like in Egypt. No offense intended, but I don't think it's unusual to feel some relief at getting out of the chaos and grime of Cairo every now and then if you can.
" getting out of the chaos and grime of Cairo " I actually decided to get out of Cairo for ever because of this; spending 2 hours in a traffic jam at 40+ degrees is an excruciating experience that could make anyone repudiate this dirty city as a home. I really wonder why anyone would live in it unless he or she really has to. Saying that you are from Rabat makes me feel the enormous strain you go through being in Cairo. May god help you.
Ach ya Amgad, I thought you were in Egypt (or was that tongue in cheek). I've just been reading the posts re mine removal and your arguments are reasoned, informed, fair and have the country's interests at heart. Come back- we need people like you in parliament. We'll get your car's air con fixed and as for the dirt, we'll send you off to Rabat to recuperate in between sessions.
Mr. masr nationalist!, it seems that you confuse Egypt and Cairo. i said "I actually decided to get out of Cairo " Cairo, not Egypt. My family is not from Cairo anyway. It seems also that the only means of transport you know is air conditioned cars, while I do not even have a car for its air con to be fixed. And most of my transport in Cairo is in public transport. finally I would not mind recuperating in Ismaliah.
One curious thing for those of us in Cairo who don't have a car (like myself) is that, after spending your time in taxis and microbuses, getting into a friend's private car is something like an out-of-body experience. Especially if it's one of those Jeep Cherokees that seem compulsory for Zamalekites -- it's like you're floating above the traffic in crisp air-conditioned air, as they show off their new subwoofer with the latest Buddha Bar compilation attacking your ears.
It certainly is a change from 40-year old Nasr 128 taxis (although some of the more well-maintained ones, with the original 1960s dashboards, are fantastic.)
It is interesting how a side remark deviated the whole point of the post, which was the tradition of vendetta in Upper Egypt, not the status of traffic in Cairo. It seems that we are very Cairo–centred :). I wish that all vendetta case become symbolic with things like shaving the moustache or carrying a piece of white cloth. In many societies the old traditions and symbolism actually lead to less blood shed during internal conflicts. Sadly, the firepower of a gun destroys the meaning of the tradition and eventually more human lives.