I am writing to The Washington Post for the second time in as many months to relay my concerns about inaccuracies published in the paper regarding Egypt during this historic time of democratic transition. Factual errors published on behalf of the Washington Post's Editorial Board and deputy editorial page editor Jackson Diehl have reached a critical mass, the latest evidence being the Post's March 30 editorial, titled” The White House's empty words on supporting Egyptian democracy”. The editorial irresponsibly and incorrectly states that, “the planned presidential election, expected in less than two months, will not be fair”, I wonder why I have to argue that such a categorical judgment issued well ahead of actual events would need to be accompanied by a high standard of evidence to be appropriate. Then the piece asks, “How could it be when the winner of the last five elections, the Muslim Brotherhood, is being violently repressed?” In this, the Post is factually inaccurate, as just three elections were previously won by the Brotherhood – one presidential and two houses of Parliament. Getting such details wrong is inexcusable, calls other conclusions in the Post's writing into question and generally undermines the Post's credibility, particularly on Egypt.
The piece also states that “the Egyptian stock market dropped in response to [Sisi's] candidacy” and concludes that “prospects for an economic recovery under his rule are bleak.”Here the Post's credibility is once again undermined by glaring factual error. In fact, when now-retired Field Marshall Sisi announced his candidacy for president, Egypt's stock market surged to a five-year high. As Reuters reported on 3 Apri, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is “seen by many investors as a stabilizing figure… His official candidacy announcement last week caused many investors to lock in gains. “This historic stock market gain – totalling more than 55 per cent growth since last summer – is among many bright spots that demonstrate that the Egyptian economy is regaining strength. Another is the appeal of the Egyptian market to international companies, all of which are already making big investments in Egypt's future. Coca-Cola, for example, plans to invest $500 million dollars in Egypt over the next three years, while AIG recently announced it is planning a major expansion in Egypt. These developments are crucial points of both pride and optimism for Egyptians living through a time that is challenging but which is taking them irreversibly toward a better future. In addition, while we face a serious and significant threat from terrorism – terrorism largely aimed at derailing our democratic path – the Government of Egypt has made progress there too, killing nearly 300 terrorists in confrontations with security forces, arresting more than 1,000 terrorists, and seizing countless firearms, rounds of ammunition and explosives since last July in the Sinai.
Noticeably absent from the Post's coverage, both on the opinion pages and from the news division, is any thoughtful recognition or understanding of the enormity for the people of Egypt of all of these events taking place in our country. Democratic transitions are never easy for any nation, and our road certainly has had and will have its problems. But recent revolutions, the passage of a new Constitution and upcoming elections means Egyptians are for the first time in history fully able to direct their own political fortunes. With the presidential vote in May, for instance, Egyptian will have the opportunity to choose an elected, civilian leader and then judge that leader's performance on fulfilling their desire for a prosperous, stable and democratic Egypt. That leader, and the parliamentary leaders to be elected after, will then set about passing and revising laws to continue bringing this democratic promise to life.
And yet, despite all this, the Post snide characterization is that “Egypt will be neither democratic no stable” and references “the fiction that the current regime is on the path to democracy”.
So I speak on behalf of all Egyptians concerned with the growing number of inaccuracies in the Post's coverage of our country when I call for the Post to reconsider its hostile stance towards Egypt's progress and its commitment to continue in the pursuit of true democracy.
Despite the Washington Post's disregard for accuracy and context, I am reaching out today – and will continue to reach out to you – with the hope that I can help to inform a more truthful and balanced view of the historic transition to democracy underway in Egypt. I look forward to meet with the Editorial Board at a time that is mutually agreeable. It is my sincere hope that you will consider this offer as an opportunity for an open and honest exchange of ideas. I would also request that the Government of Egypt be able to represent its counter-view in your opinion pages, an opportunity that seems only fair but which has been repeatedly denied to us. The people of Egypt deserve that the courtesy that have not yet been afforded on the pages of Post. Sincerely, Mohamed Tawfik Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Washington DC
