32 fans hurt after Egypt-Algeria clash

[Muslimah]

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Sp...58300349598E213


Cairo - Thirty-two people, including 20 Algerians, were injured in clashes in and around Cairo after a crunch World Cup football qualifier between Egypt and Algeria, the interior ministry said on Sunday.


Ministry spokesman Abderrahman Shahin, quoted by Egypt's state news agency MENA, said 12 Egyptians and 20 Algerians were injured in central Cairo and in Giza, near the capital, on Saturday night.


Twenty-nine of them have been discharged while the three others are in "stable condition," said Shahin.


On Saturday, an official with the security services said that three Algerian supporters were lightly injured on leaving the stadium in Nasr City, a suburb of Cairo.


Trouble flared after the game when a group of Egyptian fans stoned buses ferrying Algerian fans away from the stadium, an AFP journalist said. Three Algerian players were injured when stones were also hurled at their bus.


Cairo newspapers earlier feted Egypt's home team and their supporters after the Pharoahs beat Algeria's Desert Foxes, keeping alive their hopes of qualification for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa. - Sapa-AFP

[Muslimah]

Security high for Algeria-Egypt tie


Sudan has tightened security ahead of a crucial World Cup football qualifying match between Algeria and Egypt.


At least 15,000 police have been deployed in the capital, Khartoum, and Omdurman, the city of the opposite bank of the Nile river, which is hosting Wednesday's match, after clashes marred the two team's match in Cairo last Saturday.


Al Jazeera's Mohammed Vall, reporting from the Al Merreikh stadium, said: "Since the early afternoon there has been a growing number of police around the stadium, and inside the stadium as well.


"As the tension was heightened as the stadium filled up we could see a cordon of policemen standing around the playing field," he said.


"They are more towards the Algerian fans as there have been activities, more shouting and more fireworks on their side than the Egyptian side."


Thousands of supporters are in Sudan for the game, although Sudanese authorities have reduced the normal capacity of 41,000 to 35,000 in order to allow strict segregation of the fans.


Rivals separated


Algerian fans were seen on the streets of Khartoum on Tuesday waving flags, while groups of Egyptians sang and chanted slogans.


Both sides have been provided with 9,000 tickets.


Egyptian and Algerian fans were allocated 9,000 tickets for the match [AFP]


Two separate camps several kilometres apart were set up for opposing fans who travelled travel to the stadium via different routes.


A 400-member medical team and 120 ambulances will be on standby at the stadium, Hassan Abdelaziz, the head of a medical committee set up for the match, said.


The UN and Western embassies told their staff and citizens to avoid the match, while Khartoum closed government schools and told civil servants in the capital to leave work early.


Before Saturday's inconclusive game in Cairo Egyptian fans stoned the Algerian team bus on Thursday, wounding three players.


Post-match clashes left about 20 Algerian fans injured, prompting attacks on Egyptian firms in Algeria.


'Barbaric aggression'


Mohammed Raouraoua, the head of the Algerian football federation, added to the dispute on Wednesday by saying that Samir Zaher, his Egyptian counterpart, was to blame for the violence.


"He is the origin of all the events that have occurred, including the barbaric aggression that injured ... our players, shocked them and put them under extremely unfavourable conditions," Raouraoua said.


"It was he who ... called on his supporters to make the ground shake under the feet of the Algerian delegation."


However, Ahmed Abul Gheit, the Egyptian foreign minister, said that he had told the Algerian government to confront the "saboteurs".


Fifa, the world football governing body, arranged for the match to be played in Sudan after Egypt won the previous game 2-0, leaving the teams level in the qualification table.


There has been antipathy between the North African teams since a 1989 match in Cairo after which riots erupted.


It has been 19 years since Egypt played in a World Cup finals, while Algeria last qualified in 1986.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Can anyone believe this, Muslims killing Muslims for football???!!!


And then when non Muslims come and inquire why we Muslims do not stand and shout for inter Muslim killing as we do in response to non Muslim aggression, we feel bad. And please let us not say this is foreign intervention, but rather those are masses who are carrying weapons willingly in anticipation for launching aggression against each other. Yes, the foreign intervention originally divided this huge space creating those borders which we are feeding now, not only this, but also raising flags representing those bordes like we are no brothers and sisters.


I kept asking this question to my fellow Egyptians, in case of foreign military aggression on Alegeria now, what will be the Egyptian' positions????? and vice versa. Only Sheikh Qaradawy came up and spoke about it. Where are the other Muslims? Why no one is coming up and saying something??


What can I say, is this the modern Aws and Khazraj?? Can my Muslim brothers and sisters give some input here, how can we tackle this and what is the cause???

[Ahlam]

Bismillah
as salam alykom


Can anyone believe this, Muslims killing Muslims for football???!!!


And then when non Muslims come and inquire why we Muslims do not stand and shout for inter Muslim killing as we do in response to non Muslim aggression, we feel bad. And please let us not say this is foreign intervention, but rather those are masses who are carrying weapons willingly in anticipation for launching aggression against each other. Yes, the foreign intervention originally divided this huge space creating those borders which we are feeding now, not only this, but also raising flags representing those bordes like we are no brothers and sisters.


I kept asking this question to my fellow Egyptians, in case of foreign military aggression on Alegeria now, what will be the Egyptian' positions????? and vice versa. Only Sheikh Qaradawy came up and spoke about it. Where are the other Muslims? Why no one is coming up and saying something??


What can I say, is this the modern Aws and Khazraj?? Can my Muslim brothers and sisters give some input here, how can we tackle this and what is the cause???

Wa 'alaikum as-salam sister Muslima



It's really a shame that two Muslim countries are fighting each other and for what; for a mere game, football. I really cannot believe what's happening between Egypt and Algeria.


Is there any foreign hand behind that, I just wonder.


I would say to both Egyptians and Algerians to fear Allah and know that both countries share one religion and one language. What are you going to say to Allah when you stand in front of Him in the Day of Judgement. Are you really capable to say that you are fighting for football?


I could say nothing but la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah!


May Allah guide both countries and protect them from falling into a "Fitnah"

[SisterJennifer]

The arabs have the tools to be the most intelligent and powerful people on the earth, but they are the most backward. They are very good at creating drama over nothing.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Jazakum Allah khairan sisters, Ahlam welcome back, it is so good to see you back, true Ahlam what you said is true, I wish more of us can do this and outreach for both masses. At least you and I within our zones can transmit this message Insh a Allah.


Jennifer, I dont think that your reply was on topic, I mean generalizing how Arabs are backward is simply another form of division and superiority-based, so you just floated with the boat.


My aim was why no muslims stood up against the acts of both countries? why no muslims are attempting to intercede or demonstrate disapproval in an objective and constructive manner?

[SisterJennifer]

Jennifer, I dont think that your reply was on topic, I mean generalizing how Arabs are backward is simply another form of division and superiority-based, so you just floated with the boat.
My aim was why no muslims stood up against the acts of both countries? why no muslims are attempting to intercede or demonstrate disapproval in an objective and constructive manner?

No, my reply is on topic. I know you like to dictate the manner in which members are expected to reply to topics here, but that is my opinion on the matter and that is why I believe such things happen. Perhaps a generalization, but unfortunately based in reality.


Its a given that Muslims should fear Allah and put religion first, and we can say this until we are blue in the face. It wont change anything. The people have to feel that for themselves, not just words being heard or said. The tools are available, the knowledge is there to be utilized if one so chooses. People can worship God, or people can worship soccer. We prioritize and make our choices, and then we see the results of those choices. Both in this life and in the next.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Jennifer, so you suggest that even if we speak about it till we are blue in the face, nothing would change? How can we handle this then? and most importantly, why we as Muslims do not react to such incidents in a collective manner? why dont we organise campaigns for example like that arranged when Marwa may Allah Have mercy on her soul was stabbed in a German court? People demostrate but against each other still. No one is saying enough is enough stop killing each other.


And I dont think it helps if we speak saying Arabs or non Arabs do this or that. We are trying to dissolve barriers not feeding them Jennifer dont we?This is the point I was trying to make, using sectarian approach specially in this situation would not help.

[SisterJennifer]

Muslimah, We can organize campaigns and do such and such, but what do you realistically expect this to accomplish? Maybe it will make US feel better, I dont know that it will change the behavior of others however. I would like to see an example of that.


Do you think that these activities were limited to just Egypt and Algeria? No, even here in the United states, the Arabs were for weeks meeting in the coffee shop next to the masjid to take sides in this event and live out the drama right here. Phones ringing off the hooks to gossip and discuss the latest propaganda videos being posted on youtube. Its honestly one of the most ridiculous things I have seen from a group of grown men. Even monkeys have more sense than this. It just blows my mind that we will have to tell a bunch of grown men not to insult or kill each other over soccer?!?!?! We really are back in jahlliyah.


Im not trying to make a division, Im just telling what I see. This is reality. Better to be realistic than to try and pretend such things do not exist. Every culture has its strong and weak points. Denial wont solve anything, and if you want to see a change, well as I said the tools are right there in front of them. Maybe more so than in any other culture. The only person standing in the way is the person in the mirror.


Maybe I sound cynical but Ive seen enough of this sorry situation. I just think the only thing we can do is make dua'. Its up to individuals to change themselves. Its not a complicated situation at all. Unfortunate, but not complicated.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


La hawla wala qowata ila billah, thank you very much Jennifer, it sure helps when you give information because I guess you thought I had an idea. I could have never imagined that this insane attitude took place even offshore. Allahuma la hawala wala qowata ila billah. They were keeping themselves busy even in the US? never crossed my mind.


Then Jennifer we sure do have to remind those grown up men with what they should do. Now more than ever, I m certain of this. Then you need to do this on your side, we need to do it on ours. Allah Say remind for reminding benefits the believers. I dont care what they say about me, but when this issue is raise I speak up and remind people of how silly they are, and how they missed an opportunity to take a side and apply what the Messenger blessing and peace be upon him said about what do to during times of Haraj. Now more than evern Jennifer, this is a crisis. Sobhan Allah, on the previous day I was riding a taxi and roads were almost blocked. The driver informed me that people are coming from nationwide. I asked him will you watch, he said I never care about football and that he also shares this opinion with others. I encouraged him to spread his opinion. Another taxi driver told me that the political leadership intends to keep people busy for the public not to think about the conditions in the country. We need to work a lot jennifer a lot.


Again thank you for sharing this with me, really this is actually what I was looking for. But we still need to stand and do something.