(Photo from Ministry of Culture Facebook Page)
By: Nourhan Dakroury
Minister of Culture Alaa Abdel Aziz said in an announcement on the ministry’s Facebook page on Wednesday that he will fight against corruption and support any ministry employees in need of help.
Abdel Aziz addressed employees saying the ministry will form a committee to look into their demands, assuring them that he is there to make sure that their demands are met.
According to the Culture Ministry’s Facebook page, some employees organised a demonstration on Wednesday supporting Abdel Aziz’s statement.
The minister’s statement came after a march organised by the Egyptian Creativity Front was held on Tuesday demanding the removal of Abdel Aziz.
“The crisis that ministry employees could be facing has never been equivalent to the cultural crisis Egypt is facing,” said Abdel Geleel El- Sharnouby, spokesperson of the Egyptian Creativity Front.
Maha Effat, a member of the front, said that Abdel Aziz is addressing the employees to distract from the bigger crisis the Egypt’s cultural society is now facing.
El-Sharnouby said that the protest not only demanded the removal of the minister, it also demanded the removal of the cabinet ministers and President Mohamed Morsi.
“All of the concerns we had when Morsi first took office now prove to be right,” he said.
El-Sharnouby added that the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated government thrives for their ideologies to reach all institutions in Egypt.
Effat added that the front is currently organising a conference around mid June to discuss how they can rescue the Egypt’s cultural life.
She added that the front is going to be present at a conference to be held at the Press Syndicate on Saturday to further look into the artists’ and intellectuals’ issues with the ministry.
