Bullying by the State

By Hassan Elsawaf

When a police force, fifty strong, breaks into the house of a defenseless university professor, throws him into prison and subjects him to three years of agonising prison sojourns, that is defined as state bullying. Particularly if the man is later exonerated of all charges and it is disclosed that there was no reason to apprehend him in the first place except a grudge or two by some high officials. As school children we all understand the nasty practice of bullying, especially if we happen to be on the receiving end. As we grow up, we come to terms with certain facts the most prominent of which is that bullying cannot be allowed to accompany us in our tedious journey in life. In rudimentary terms, bullying has a disruptive effect on any society. It tampers with the basic concept of allowing human beings the ability to coexist on a strong foundation. Animals have lower mental powers, thus end up with rules based on physical dominance. In short, brute force, the prime-mover of the animal kingdom has no place in a human society serious about progress. Hence, bullying in advanced societies fades and is replaced by hard work and mental prowess.

In modern societies, some have yet to eschew the bullying syndrome from their modus operandi. Societies that are ruled by military dictatorships are perfect examples of young school children who have never grown up, where bullying is rampant. In such a society the basic rules of fair play are ignored, the strong realise they can avoid trouble while still getting the better of the weak and the elementary rules of school bullying prevail. Egypt has turned into such a society. The weak, by definition the poor, are completely helpless in a jungle of ferocious predators whose primary concern is to enrich themselves by pillaging and robbing. Since the resources available are scant, owing to the drop in production efficiency, and since what is being plundered is enormous, the poor become destitute, some close to starvation levels. Yet the looting continues unabated and the strong become more brutal and audacious.

The strong control all the instruments that facilitate their bullying. They don't need to build up impressive brawn, for they have someone to do that for them. All they need is to spread their network of control and manipulation to the effective instruments of control, namely the military and the police. Once they have that covered, the rest is easy.

The justice system is converted to an extension of the executive branch, to be used against dissidents or regime critics when it is hard to apprehend and convict summarily. Laws are moulded to suit the needs of disciplining political adversaries, and the police force becomes a personal security apparatus of the strongman and his minions. Big business becomes the exclusive domain of the strong and interest in anything to do with the needs of the country is relegated to a minor role, only exhibited when facades are required. Decades of oppressive military rule, climaxing in unprecedented corruption and abuse by the strongman and his henchmen, have all but destroyed this once delightful country on the Mediterranean, an erstwhile tourist haven. From the foremost financial centre in the Middle East we have fallen to being beggars waiting for crumbs. From a leading cultural hub of the area, exporting music, books and quality films, we have declined to a philistine society in which the words culture and intellect are objects of derision and scorn.

An obtrusive religious rift has emerged, thanks to years of oppression, resulting in an unnecessary but now firmly entrenched intrusion of alarming religious rites threatening our way of life. It is obvious that the oppression under which the people of Egypt live has wrought havoc on their ability to realise their potential in any field. Desperation and fatalism have become trademarks of an otherwise bright and happy people. End the bullying if you want to restore this country to its rightful place.