9 Things We “Don’t Have” in the Middle East
Middle Eastern culture is famous for a lot of things… falafels, heatwaves, camels and… denial. In the past three years I’ve been back home in good old Cairo, I’ve realized just how unaccepting some Egyptians are about the reality of our culture.
Here are some of the things that just “don’t happen” here in the Middle East.
1. Familial Sexual Abuse
Egyptian mothers and fathers are kind, loving, warm. Brothers and sisters look out for each other, they’re shoulders to lean on. And there are no exceptions.
A couple of weeks ago, I was telling one of my friend’s parent about a scene in one of my favorite shows in which the mother sexually abuses her son. Yes, I know I watch weird things. Regardless, their answer was “To2 to2 to2, elhamdulilah we don’t have these types of people here.”
Yeah, of course, we’re all amazing… not. As long as there are humans in a country, there will be corruption. Sexual defilement is not a disease caused by political instability, low economies, or otherwise. It is a disease of the mind that no culture or region is free from.
2. Atheism
“Sha3b motadayen be tab3o.” That’s why nobody ever leaves their religion. Everybody is always satisfied with the spiritual choice made for them since birth. Especially with the recent political and cultural extremism practiced in the “name of God,” nobody will ever ever come to question their faith. Like at all.
3. Pre-Marital Sex
Let’s put aside the conservatism and the sexual oppression, our sons and daughters love God and understand what’s right and wrong. They’re never tempted or swayed. Especially our young men, knowing that they can easily get away with it doesn’t influence their decisions at all.
4. Judaism
Although recent reports by AlJazeera claim that a small population of only 11 Jews live in Cairo, the obvious is set aside. The fact remains that Jewish communities do exist in hiding. Nadia Haroun, an Egyptian Jew who recently passed away, refused to leave Egypt because she insisted that it is her home and nobody can force her to leave. As did her father who lived his life in protest.
So tell me again, we have no Jews in Egypt? Like, at all? The fact remains that we do, and they are Egyptians just like you or me.
5. Abortion
Because of the illegality of abortion in Egypt, some people just believe it doesn’t happen. Most Egyptians are pro-life and many just assume that everyone shares their beliefs and the world is a happy place. Black markets don’t exist, illegal procedures don’t occur, and everything is under control.
6. Drugs
This truth truly makes me laugh. In Egypt, we have this understanding that most drug users just smoke weed or hash, but never more, because they know better. In actuality, Egypt is number one in teenage drug abuse… in the world, not just the Middle East. Tell me again how your son seems to be asking for a lot of money lately?
7. Racism
Egypt has a long and rich history of cultural diversity. We understand and appreciate different ethnicities and races. That’s why ‘el zenoug’ are ugly (funny that word even exists…), Indians smell bad, and Brits have no sense of humor. We even go so far as to discriminate Egyptians from different parts of Egypt: sa3ayda are stupid, and fala7een are classless. Did I miss anything?
8. Religious Freedom
In Egypt, you can be whoever you want to be, this isn’t Saudi Arabia. That’s why we got rid of Morsi, right? That’s why it’s required to have your religion labelled on your ID, the national education system teaches you that only the three Abrahamic religions are legitimate, and every problem we’ve ever had ever is because of the Jews.
9. 3orfy marriages
It’s not true that we have a hugely conservative culture which separates boys from girls in every step of the way, including not letting opposite sex cousins play alone in a room. We don’t have that ignorant type of extremist mentality.
And even if we did, this doesn’t at all pave the way for secret marriages. I mean, even a marriage of a Christian and Muslim is totally normal, so it doesn’t pressure them at all to have a secret relationship. Khales.
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss “The Unspoken Truth of Arab Women Getting Abortions“
