From Kamili to Mohammed Salah, How Did Social Media Demolish the Narratives of the Egyptian Regime?

On Saturday, June 3, 2023, Egyptian soldier Mohammed Salah managed to access the occupied Palestinian territories through the border area in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Salah opened fire on a security force belonging to the Israeli Occupation army and killed two soldiers. He also killed another soldier and injured an officer before the Israeli Occupation forces killed him.

The military spokesperson for the armed forces, Gharib Abdel Hafez, remained silent and withheld any information regarding the incident for nearly 11 hours. Finally, around 2:00 pm, a brief statement was released, which not only lacked necessary details but also included false claims, suggesting that the Egyptian soldier was “in pursuit of a group of drug smugglers.”

The statement from the military spokesperson aimed to impose a particular narrative on the incident and initially enforced silence, waiting for the threads of the story to be carefully constructed. However, this attempt was caught off guard by other sources that managed to break through and reveal the truth.

 

Breaking the Silence

The Egyptian army’s statement regarding the incident raised concerns as it conspicuously avoided providing any details about the perpetrator, including their photo or name.

This deliberate omission, coupled with the regime’s media’s complete silence on the matter, drew widespread criticism. Many expressed dissatisfaction with the vague handling of the incident and questioned the army’s delayed response.

The regime’s media faced scrutiny for its excessive secrecy, as it failed to disclose crucial information, such as the identity of the soldier involved in the operation or whether his body was returned by the Israeli Occupation army. This lack of transparency further contributed to the formation of public perception among Egyptians, leaving important aspects of the incident unanswered.

This particular aspect highlighted the influence of the “new media” or social media platforms, which took it upon themselves to investigate and uncover the complete identity of the conscript involved in the incident.

Through their diligent efforts, they managed to access his Facebook account, revealing his full name, along with various posts that shed light on his ideological and religious inclinations.

This information, including his picture, was made available to the public, thanks to the power of social media and its ability to delve into personal profiles.

This development further contributed to the overall discourse surrounding the incident, as social media became a significant source of information and analysis, surpassing the limitations imposed by the traditional regime-controlled media.

Despite the military spokesperson’s reluctance to disclose the identity of the soldier involved, social media platforms buzzed with information about him. Swiftly, it became widely known that his name was Mohammed Salah, a 23-year-old individual hailing from the Ain Shams area in the eastern part of Cairo.

It was revealed that his military service was stationed in the Sinai Governorate. Social media, with its vast network and ability to disseminate information rapidly, played a pivotal role in unraveling these details, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the individual involved in the event. As traditional channels remained tight-lipped, the power of social media once again demonstrated its ability to bridge gaps in information and provide the public with valuable insights.

Other detailed information was also published, stating that Salah did not hold any higher qualifications, having only completed preparatory school. However, he was literate, fond of traveling, and had a passion for drawing.

Social media exploration delved into Mohamed Salah’s ideological inclinations, uncovering his support for the Palestinian cause.

A notable instance was his expression of solidarity during the Israeli aggression on Gaza in May 2021.

On his Facebook profile, Salah shared a poignant message, proclaiming: “Allah stands with Palestine.”

This revelation provided additional context to his motivations and underscored the significance of his beliefs in shaping his actions.

As social media users unearthed such aspects of Salah’s online presence, it offered a glimpse into his perspective and highlighted the interconnectedness of global events and individual actions in today’s digital age.

As the true narrative about Mohamed Salah began to emerge from the depths of social media platforms and the dedicated efforts of online activists, he swiftly transformed into a revered figure and a symbol of inspiration.

This incident marked yet another instance in which these online platforms shattered the regime’s carefully constructed narrative.

The power of social media to challenge and reveal the truth has become increasingly evident, allowing alternative perspectives and voices to be heard and defying attempts to control and manipulate information.

Salah’s story resonated with the public, serving as a potent reminder of the transformative role that social media can play in shaping public discourse and challenging the status quo.

 

Ahmed al-Kamili

In early May 2020, a significant incident unfolded, capturing the attention of the nation. It involved a brave conscript hailing from the city of Akhmim in the Sohag Governorate, Egypt.

The military spokesperson made an announcement, revealing the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the incident. According to the statement, a vehicle carrying Ahmed al-Kamili was struck by an explosive device in the southern region of Bir al-Abd, located in northern Sinai.

Tragically, this devastating attack resulted in the loss of an officer, a non-commissioned officer, and eight soldiers. The news sent shockwaves across the country, highlighting the ongoing challenges and sacrifices faced by military personnel in the fight against terrorism.

Although such incidents are unfortunately common in Sinai due to the ongoing war there, claiming the lives of both military personnel and civilians, this was the first time that the official media outlets and newspapers affiliated with the government deleted the name and photo of a soldier from the list of martyrs.

What is the story of al-Kamili, and why did the newspapers and government media delete his picture after praising his courage and heroism?

When his death in Sinai was announced, social media activists began to trace his personal account on Facebook.

His last post on his profile was as follows: “History will witness that I was born a male, raised as a man, and lived as a warrior. I will die a hero, God willing. Be who you are, for I see no one.”

Shocking revelations have emerged regarding the alleged affiliation of the late conscript, Ahmed al-Kamili, with the Muslim Brotherhood.

This revelation has brought into question the military spokesperson of the armed forces and the official media of the Sisi regime.

The news has sparked a national debate, raising concerns about the effectiveness of background checks within the military ranks and the potential infiltration of “extremist ideologies.” The Sisi regime now faces scrutiny over its handling of the situation as calls for transparency and accountability grow stronger.

On the day when the democratically elected President, Mohamed Morsi, who was overthrown by his Defense Minister, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, on July 3, 2013, passed away, Ahmed al-Kamili wrote on his Facebook account on June 17, 2019, mourning him: “May God avenge his killers. Farewell, Mr. President.”

Amidst the emergence of the coronavirus, al-Kamili mocked the government’s handling of the crisis by posting a satirical picture of a woman saying to Sisi, “Be careful, Mr. President, Corona will destroy the country.” He replied, “No, don’t worry, there is no country or anything!”

Al-Kamili’s opposition to the military rule became evident when he wrote: “Oh military ruler, the burden is on you, not us. Tomorrow, the dawn of oppression will come to those who betrayed our dream. Confidence, no matter how much you suppress it, will continue to whisper to us.”

Al-Kamili’s opposition stances toward Sisi and his military regime put the security and media apparatuses of the regime in a difficult position, especially since they often portray regime opponents as terrorists.

The newspaper, Youm7, owned by the intelligence agency, deleted al-Kamili’s photo from the “martyrs list.”

It published on its website and Facebook profile pictures of only nine security personnel, claiming that it was a tribute to the heroes of Bir al-Abd, deliberately excluding the soldier “Ahmed Ali Mohamed Ahmed,” known as “Ahmed al-Kamili,” from the tribute.

 

Suleiman Khater’s Era

The story of Mohammed Salah and Ahmed al-Kamili, and the power of social media to unearth information, echoes Suleiman Khater’s era when the regime tightly controlled stories and narratives.

Just like what happened with the Egyptian soldier, the events began on October 5, 1985, when Khater was carrying out his usual guard duty in the Ras Burqa area in southern Sinai. He was surprised to find a group of Israeli tourists attempting to climb the hill where his guard post was located.

He warned them in English that this area was off-limits, but they disregarded his instructions and continued to walk beside the guard post, which housed special equipment and weapons that were not allowed to be accessed by anyone.

In response, he shot them, but he couldn’t figure out why these foreigners, twelve in number, were ascending the hill. The gunfire resulted in the death of seven Israelis.

Subsequently, Suleiman Khater was subjected to a military trial, and the official narrative of the regime was published through newspapers and media outlets, describing Suleiman as “mentally unstable” or “crazy.”

According to the psychological report issued after examining the Egyptian soldier, it stated that “Suleiman is somewhat disturbed, and the reason is that darkness turned his fears into mythical, terrifying forms, causing him to jump out of bed in panic. The darkness made him imagine that ghosts were living in the depths of the canal and that they were splashing water forcefully at night as they made their way toward him.”

This was the narrative conveyed to the public. Interestingly, despite the narrative of Khater being “mentally unstable,” the military court sentenced him to 25 years of life imprisonment on December 28, 1985.

He was then transferred to prison and later to the prison hospital under the pretext of treating him for bilharzia. On January 7, 1986, the radio announced and newspapers reported the news of the soldier Suleiman Khater’s suicide under mysterious circumstances.

If Khater had lived in the era of social media platforms, the narrative might have taken a different form and content.

However, Khater has never faded from the consciousness of the Egyptian people, as he is always portrayed as a symbol of Egyptian nationalism and resistance against normalization.

In an interview with Al-Estiklal, media researcher Tariq Mohammad stated that the regime’s media and military spokesperson “dealt with the incident of the conscript Mohammed Salah as if they were isolated from time, as if we were living in the era of the (1967 Naksa). There was intense secrecy, followed by misleading information with caution, and finally, ambiguous statements and declarations that led to nothing.”

Mohammad further explained, saying: “The Israeli Occupation’s media was publishing detailed information; this is exactly what happened during the [June 5, 1967] Naksa and what happened in the case of Mohammed Salah (may he rest in peace).

“Of course, the military’s media apparatus is now faced with a fresh wave of embarrassment and apprehension as they realize that the narrative no longer remains exclusively under their control. They are left powerless in shaping scenarios that align with their objectives. Without the influence of new media, they may have resorted to branding Mohammed Salah in the same manner as Khater: a deranged individual plagued by psychological disorders or even portraying him as a potential terrorist.”

Mohammad continued: “We are in an era defined by the velocity and precision of information, a reality that unsettles authoritarian regimes. They perceive Facebook, Twitter, and other digital platforms as their most formidable adversaries, as the days of monopolizing the narrative and manipulating public perception are no more. The advent of new media has unequivocally shattered the foundations on which they relied to obscure and mislead the masses.”