Op-ed: “Al Ikhtiyar”  Between Resistance And Bir Al-Abd

Terrorism always rejects any ideas that do not agree with its own ideologies, do not serve its leaders, and do not coincide with the ideas of the countries controlling it. This interprets the recent terrorist attack against officers and soldiers of the armed forces in Bir al-Abd district in North Sinai. 

This operation is one of the great indications that the Egyptian people still has much to do in their battle against terrorists who target security and safety of all citizens, not only the army and police personnel. 

The people's battle against the terrorists is not an easy battle that may end in one day; rather, it is a great battle that prolongs until the end of terrorism and extremist ideas that affect all of us.

With the current broadcast of the soap opera of "Al Ikhtiyar ", which reveals the heroism of the martyr Ahmed al-Mansi and other military men, in the face of the terrorists led by Hisham Ashmawi, there are several points to highlight:

Al Ikhtiyar TV drama uncovers how members of the armed forces are real heroes who fight against terrorist groups presenting themselves as Islamists. Those pretended Islamists know nothing about Islam. The TV series showed great sympathy from the people after watching the truth, and a great hatred against the terrorists who kill innocent people.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s positions regarding the screening of Al Ikhtiyar series are evidence that the group does not care about the lives of innocent people.

The terrorist operation in Bir al-Abd proved that the battle of consciousness and thought is important along with the battle of the army and police, because victory over this misguided group needs the power to change the ideas spread by the Brotherhood and its followers. Art and creativity are the correct way to change these ideas along with a military confrontation.

The popular funerals for the martyrs of the terrorist operation are a message from the people of every city and village that there is more than sympathy and that the people also fight terrorists. 

It is no longer doubt that the people link between what the terrorists do and what the Brotherhood members say in their Turkey-based channels.

The media should not forget the previous crimes and explain what these terrorists and the Brotherhood carried out including terrorist attacks and assassination attempts. These facts must not be forgotten.

The Intellectual confrontation is important too. It’s always vital not to allow this misleading persons to recruit any person claiming that the group represents the religion of Islam.

The end of terrorism and confronting crises are linked to all state institutions, and awareness against the ideas of extremism. But all institutions will not be able to succeed without the people’s support. 

Now the state faces the novel coronavirus, and implements a curfew due to the virus. The people spend most of their time in their homes. Thus, the state should use this situation and reveal all foreign plots that target the security and safety of citizens.

Contributed by Nawal Sayed