Sisi's Speech on Egypt's Island Transfer to Saudi Arabia Sparks Controversy

Abdel Fattah Sisi, the President of Egypt, attempted to quell the controversies surrounding the transfer of two islands to Saudi Arabia during a speech on Wednesday, April 25. However, his harsh response to a participant in the session led to a new uproar regarding freedom of speech in Egypt. According to Reuters, Sisi aimed to explain and assure that Egypt had not sold the islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia during this session, which included members of parliament, the cabinet, and senior media editors. His two-hour speech, broadcast live on television, was so lengthy that a member of parliament had to excuse himself to go to the restroom. At the end of the session, when he tried to ask a question, Sisi silenced him in a sharp and commanding tone, saying, 'I have not given anyone permission to speak.' The Egyptian state television immediately cut the live broadcast after the president's angry remarks. This incident sparked viewer criticism and led to extensive discussions on social media about the suppression of freedom of speech during Sisi's rule. The hashtag 'Freedom of Speech Does Not Require Permission' quickly circulated on Twitter, with many mocking the fact that Sisi invited a crowd for discussion but only spoke himself. One user tweeted, 'This is a country, not a primary school, and the topic of discussion is two islands, not two bites of bread and cheese.' This message clearly indicates that a large segment of the Egyptian population is dissatisfied with the government's frivolous handling of the country's territorial integrity. Since Saturday, when the Egyptian government announced that it would place two uninhabited islands in the Red Sea under Saudi sovereignty through a signed agreement regarding maritime boundaries, Egyptian media have extensively covered the issue. The islands of Tiran and Sanafir are located between the shores of Saudi Arabia and the Sinai Peninsula, right at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, which later extends to the borders of Jordan and Israel. Saudi and Egyptian officials claim these islands originally belonged to Saudi Arabia and have been under Egyptian control since 1950 when Saudi Arabia entrusted their protection to Egypt. These controversies have put significant pressure on Abdel Fattah Sisi, who once enjoyed widespread support. Newspapers that previously supported Sisi's government are now criticizing the crackdown on dissent, which initially targeted the Muslim Brotherhood and later included liberals and secular activists. Critics argue that the government has poorly managed several sensitive issues, including widespread abuse of dissenters by police forces and the murder of an Italian student in Cairo. Concurrently with Sisi's speech, about 30 people protested in front of the media syndicate building, chanting, 'The man who sold our land must go.' Changes to the maritime boundaries between Egypt and Saudi Arabia must be approved by parliament, and many people are angry that the parliament was not consulted on this matter beforehand. Even the editor-in-chief of the state newspaper 'Al-Ahram' condemned the government's actions regarding this issue. Ahmed El-Naggar wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday evening, 'Tiran and Sanafir will always belong to Egypt' and added that he would publish an article on the matter on Wednesday. However, his article was not published in Al-Ahram on Wednesday. Although Sisi spoke in a calm tone, it was evident from his choice of words that he had tasted the bitterness of recent criticisms. He stated, 'I have invited you here to assure you about the man to whom you have entrusted your land and dignity. I have not taken this matter personally. Please let us not discuss this topic any further.' Mohamed Koloub, the parliament member whom Sisi silenced, told Reuters that he was not upset and was able to ask his question after the televised speech ended. He said, 'I asked how parliament representatives can have more direct contact and cooperation with the president.'