Hafsa Kanjwal

Last week, I had the opportunity to hear a former ambassador from the United States to Egypt speak at the American University of Cairo. After addressing his views on a few of the regional conflicts and how the strong alliance between Egypt and the United States can further peace in the region, he was asked a series of questions from the audience. One professor bluntly asked the former ambassador to be honest with the audience as he wasn't in the Foreign Service anymore. Then the professor proceeded to state: It seems that the United States is using the democracy card when it comes to foreign policy in this region. Yet, at the same time, the US is not in favor of all parties participating in the democratic process, and in fact, supports those who wish to suppress them. How can the US explain this double standard? What is the US really interested in—democracy or promotion of its own interests in the region?

This past Friday, I visited the great Al-Azhar Mosque, part of what the guidebooks here call “Islamic Cairo.” Egyptians are easily amused by the title; the haggling of prices in the historic Khan al-Khalili market does not seem to be very Islamic to them. However, the area includes some of the notable mosques and shrines in Islamic history, including Al-Azhar and the Mosque of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The mosque used to house the Al-Azhar University, but currently the university is spread out in different campuses throughout the country. It is considered to be the center of Sunni Islamic scholarship and education.