The name of Alaa Eddin Abdel-Moneim gives me a different inner feeling relating to the old memories and close long-standing friendship I formed from my earliest youth. My close friend Abdel-Moneim, a lawyer, made me like his name. We love names, in general, due to the good characteristics the persons have. Therefore, I liked the independent MP Alaa Eddin Abdel-Moneim even before seeing him because he carries the name and profession of my close friend. After that, my admiration for him increased after I met him in the People's Assembly (Parliament) several years ago and saw his outstanding performance under the parliament's dome. He participates in discussions in accordance with the law without speculations and moves from an issue to another as an ordinary citizen without calculations or speculations. Therefore, it was not surprising for a person like him to carve his name among the opposition and independent MPs and discuss important and serious issues away from deals and propaganda, especially as most of them are backed by documents. A tribute should be paid to this brave man, who exerts great effort and spends a long time to expose these issues.
Abdel-Moneim, who has never broken his promises to the voters of his constituency, debated last week a serious issue regarding the invalidity of the membership of 77 deputies. He had the nerve to bear full responsibility for what has been published without fear or awe. He was brave enough to face the attack launched against him by the parliament majority and even the opposition and independent MPs because he revealed such facts for the people, who tried over years to know from the legislative committee, but in vain.
The easiest thing in Egypt is to criticize the government or even the performance of President Mubarak. If you did so, you would not be referred to the People's Assembly (Parliament)'s Committee on Ethics. But once you commented on the performance of the well-connected MPs, this would be seen as an unforgivable sin. Therefore, it was not surprising from some lawmakers, who are supposed to observe the law, to level "silly" accusations to Abdel-Moneim instead of studying the Court of Cassation's reports and announcing the result. Indeed, such actions have proved that Egypt lives in a climate of democracy, but without democrats!
Abdel-Moneim has previously raised serious issues such as the loss of the privatization returns. In addition, he joined many battles against the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros-Ghali, Ibrahim Suleiman and others without seeking personal interests or goals. He also discussed all cases with outstanding legal professionalism, realistic political vision and national conscience. It seems that the truth became known as Alaa Eddin Abdel-Moneim, whether this name refers to my old friend or my new friend the independent MP, who defends the people's rights.
