State-owned paper attacks VP ElBaradei
Mohamed ElBaradei
 

The state-owned newspaper Al-Akhbar launched a salvo against Vice President for Foreign Affairs Mohamed ElBaradei in an article Tuesday, criticizing him for hypocrisy and exploiting the revolution, in a notable instance of one state institution attacking a member of the executive.

 

The article in question, written by columnist and literary figure Gamal al-Ghitani, said that the former diplomat is “Theoretically the champion of the revolution, but practically destroying it.”

 

The piece, which draws analogies to multiple historical figures, focuses on ElBaradei’s statements calling for the inclusion of religious parties in the political process, which the author considers an affront to the “30 June Revolution.”

 

“The essence of the revolution,” Ghitani wrote, “is the refusal of political schemes in the name of religion.”

 

ElBaradei retorted in his medium of choice, Twitter. He did not mention the author, Gamal al-Ghitani, or Al-Akhbar by name, but instead referenced the title, “This man is a danger to the people and the state.”

 

“It seems that my work to spare the country from slipping into a cycle of violence has not reached the state newspapers, except articles about “the danger I pose to the people and the state,” ElBaradei posted. “The road ahead is long and bumpy.”

 

One of the subheadlines of the offending article read “He considers himself the spiritual father of the revolution, but did not make any sacrifices for it.”

 

Al-Akhbar, the second largest government newspaper, after state flagship Al-Ahram, had an issue pulled in early June for a front page headline that read “Mama Qatar distributes gas to Egypt.”

 

Adly Mansour said yesterday that he would appoint a 15-member Supreme Press Council. New editors are also set to be appointed.

 

Al-Akhbar’s editor-in-chief was appointed by the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Shura Council.

 

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