Title: Ancient Alliances Reforged: Pharaoh Sends Telegram of Gratitude to Modern Egypt's Leader



In a stunning historical twist, a telegram of gratitude has been sent from the afterlife by none other than a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The message warmly thanks the President, his government, and media apparatus for their vigorous defense of the Pharaoh's historical legacy as the founder of a great Egyptian empire.


The Pharaoh's dispatch also praises his role in confronting what the message describes as "the terrorism of the Children of Israel, the corrupters on Earth." Furthermore, the ancient ruler expressed his approval of the recent arrest of Sheikh Mustafa Al-Adawi, a religious scholar who has consistently criticized and spoken ill of the Pharaoh in his lectures and sermons.


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🔍 Context & Cultural Translation for International Readers


This text is another masterful work of political and historical satire by the Egyptian satirical writer Al-Nadeem Al-Raqamy (The Digital Courtier). It is not a real news item but a densely layered critique that uses absurdist humor to comment on contemporary Egyptian politics, historical narrative, and religious discourse.


Here’s a breakdown of the satirical elements:


· Pharaoh as a Political Ally: The core joke is placing a Pharaoh—a figure from a polytheistic, pre-Abrahamic civilization—in political alignment with a modern Islamic state. This absurdity satirizes the modern government's attempt to co-opt all of Egypt's history, from the Pharaohs to the present, into a single, state-approved narrative of strength and nationalism, regardless of historical or theological contradictions.

· "Terrorism of the Children of Israel": This is a direct, ironic reference to the Quranic story of Moses and the Pharaoh, where the Pharaoh is the tyrant and the Children of Israel are the oppressed. By inverting this foundational religious narrative, the satirist critiques the state's pro-military, anti-Islamist discourse, which often frames its opponents as "terrorists" and "corrupters on earth," mirroring the language used here.

· The Arrest of the Critical Sheikh: The arrest of a real-life scholar, Sheikh Al-Adawi, for "insulting the Pharaoh" is the ultimate punchline. It satirizes the sensitive nature of historical and religious commentary in Egypt. The joke is that the state is so invested in defending a sanitized, nationalistic version of history that it would prosecute modern dissenters on behalf of an ancient despot, blurring the lines between protecting national heritage and suppressing free speech.


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✍️ The Satirist's Method


This piece exemplifies Al-Nadeem Al-Raqamy's signature style:


· Historical Juxtaposition: He creates shocking and hilarious anachronisms (like a Pharaoh sending a telegram) to expose modern contradictions.

· Critique of Official Narratives: The text mocks the state's control over both historical interpretation and religious discourse.

· Layered Symbolism: "Pharaoh" here is not just an ancient king; he is a symbol of absolute, autocratic power, and his "thanks" to the modern president is a sharp, implied criticism of contemporary governance.


For an international audience, this satire offers a brilliant, if dark, window into the complex political and cultural debates happening in Egypt today, where history, religion, and power are constantly being negotiated and contested.


elnnadim satire

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