Page 7 - Issue 59

ELITE
Vol.1

Issue 59

September While we have in Europe, the maximum Here lies our role in returning them to their
problem we may face is trying to collect the Egyptian identity and reminding them of
2023 amount necessary to transfer one of the deceased their Egyptian origin, which is one of the
to be buried in Egypt, if his family cannot important roles that we play.
provide the amount or the state refuses to bear
it. Therefore, our members do not receive a And what is the role of the Union, whether
wage, but on the contrary, they bear great general or in its branch in Britain, in
financial hardship willingly. Therefore, I do not supporting the general policies of the Egyptian
understand the reason for the disputes, which I state?
only interpret as aiming for fame and
appearance and monopolizing the scene and the To be honest with you, we felt ourselves since
lights. But what then? Even if His Excellency the His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-
President knows your name, have you helped Sisi took over the presidency of the republic,
people on the ground? The answer is always no. where he magnified the role of Egyptians
It is the nature of ladies and women in general to abroad, and cared about the presence of
care, so when they solve a problem, they solve it deputies for them, although I see that the
with their hearts before they solve it with their selection of these deputies is not appropriate.
minds. When I face someone who has a problem, I, as the president of the Union in a large
my heart feels sorry for him before my mind country like Britain and a member of the
realizes that solving his problem is my duty. I board of directors of the General Union, did
deal with all the feelings that any woman feels, not meet the eight deputies who are currently
because the citizen who is exposed to a problem, present and do not know them and did not
whether a man or a woman, is an Egyptian like see them and did not solve any problem.
me, and I feel sorry for him. This is what gives Therefore, I must say that the parliamentary
me the motivation to care about solving the representation of Egyptians abroad needs a
problem despite my preoccupations and work representative with experience, effectiveness,
and children. As for the man, he is more and political weight. We have under his
practical and realistic. Our work in the Union sovereignty many entitlements, including the
consists of providing all kinds of assistance right to vote from abroad, which is a right
required, and I will elaborate in the explanation that we did not have before, whether in
in the part that concerns Britain, as I am a amending the constitution or other
member of the branch of the General Union in referendums, where coming to Egypt was the
it, but what I will say applies to all European only way to vote before he allowed us to vote
and Western countries, considering that the Gulf from the embassy. In the last presidential
countries have a special situation. elections and the referendum to amend the
constitution, we had the right to vote from
We help people with family problems, language
abroad, and we carried out strong awareness
problems, communication problems, and
campaigns in all the countries where we have
problems with the second and third generations
a presence, in Saudi Arabia as in England,
who grow up without knowing our language,
about the nature of the amendment of the
customs, traditions, and identity. There is always
constitution and the details of the amended
a problem in our desire for our children to be
items and their reasons.
connected to the Egyptian identity, which is a
Many Egyptians carry a stereotypical image of the
problem that immigrants in Arab countries do
role of Egyptians abroad politically, in the event of
not face, who speak Arabic and can easily return
a visit by one of the officials or ministers, and they
and approach Egypt. As for the Western
carry flags in the streets and appear on television,
countries, the society is different and the and this is their role. And this brings us to the
customs and traditions are completely different, following question: How can Egyptians abroad
6 and we cannot let our children separate from support the state’s policy? Or how do they support
it realistically outside the framework of this limited
their Egyptian identity physically, mentally, and
perception?
intellectually.