Egypt Native, Temple Professor Reflects On Bloodshed In Home Country
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood is calling for nationwide marches during a "Day of Rage" to denounce yesterday's bloodshed (see related story). At least 638 people were killed in clashes between security forces and supporter's of the country's deposed president, Mohamed Morsi. A Temple professor expresses his sadness and anger at the violence and unrest in his home country.
The chaos and death thousands of miles away in the streets of Egypt is too hard to ignore for Dr. Magid Abou-Gharbia in Philadelphia.
"My colleagues in Egypt told me they saw people getting shot. (They were) innocent, they had no weapon, they're just standing in the street."
Abou-Gharbia expressed optimism earlier this summer when Mohammed Morsi was ousted, saying Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood were not uniting but dividing the country. But his hopes that a civilian, more secular government would emerge, have been shattered with the violence. He puts the blame on the military.
"And what's happening now is this coup actually, is they (the military) is trying to force their way and killing anybody in the street demonstrating peacefully."
Abou-Gharbia says he reaches out to his family and friends in Egypt often and even with all that's going on, he's thankful they're safe.
