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Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian movie star Hussein Fahmi, which aired on MBC Misr TV on August 30, 2013.
Hussein Fahmi: The thing that most annoyed me during Morsi's term in office was the lies. I felt that the [Muslim Brotherhood] and that man in particular were not pursuing Egypt's interests and did not care about Egypt. Their [General Guide] once said: "To hell with Egypt."
[…]
I did not go to demonstrate in Tahrir Square on January 25 (2011), but let me tell you that I demonstrated there many times in the past.
During the rule of Anwar Sadat, we spent three or four nights in Tahrir Square. We were young then, and I had just returned from the U.S., and we were demonstrating against Sadat's claim that fog [over the Suez Canal] had prevented us from attacking Israel. We wanted to fight.
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I have said that January 25 was just the dress rehearsal, and that the real revolution was on June 30. In the theater, we have something known as "dress rehearsal." First we have the dress rehearsal, and then we have the actual show. The real show was on June 30, so that's why I went to demonstrate.
For another thing, the damage wreaked upon Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood is unparalleled in the entire history of the country, including during the rule of Hosni Mubarak. Throughout its history, Egypt has never been harmed as much as it was during the rule of that group.
That group [the Muslim Brotherhood] sold out the country. All the enterprises they talked about were intended to sell out the country. Nobody has the right to go to another country [Sudan] and say: "You can have Hala'ib and Shalateen." Nobody has the right to let the Sinai remain in its current state – everybody there is a criminal or a terrorist. Yet they let them be and even encouraged them.
That's the regime for you – they have "Muslim Brotherhoodized" all of Egypt. We had an incompetent minister of culture, an incompetent minister of information, and in incompetent minister of investments… These are the policies I demonstrated against.
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I said to U.S. ambassador Anne Patterson twice, once at a meeting of ambassadors and once at a meeting of politicians: "I am an actor – not a politician or a diplomat – but I tell you frankly that you are incompetent and you go hand in hand with incompetent people. You are yet to see what the Egyptian public will do."
What I said did not convince her. When I met her the second time, I told her the same thing. I said: "The current U.S. administration, headed by Obama, is sponsoring terrorism, by encouraging terrorists. Only two years ago, you placed the MB on the list of terrorist organizations. Your country is sponsoring terrorism. You will see what the Egyptian people will do to them. They will not spare them."
Patterson responded that they had come to power through elections. I answered that they have breached their covenant with the people. The ballot is the beginning of democracy, not the end.
True, they were elected. I did not vote for them myself, but the people did. What have they done to the country? I have the right to say: You have made a mistake, now step aside. I have the right to say this.
Another thing I noticed was at a meeting with EU ambassadors. I got into a heated debate with the Swedish ambassador in particular. I said to them that I have the right to revolt against the ruler. We, the people, have this right. How can you deny me this right, yet claim to be supporting me?
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First, we must define what a military coup is. A military coup takes place when a group of officers and soldiers takes secret action. The military coup against King Farouq is one example. The king awoke one morning to find that there had been a coup. That's a coup. But when the entire people has been fighting for a whole year, in order to save itself from this tragedy… Is there any people in the world that said: "My revolution will be in a month's time"? Or: "My revolution will take place in the afternoon of the 30th"?
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The U.S. Congress represents the American citizens, but it has been marginalized by the U.S. administration and by Patterson, who sent erroneous reports on what was happening in Egypt. I met and talked to Congress members three times in November and December of last year. Among others, I talked to Congressmen John Sununu and Jim Moran, who are among the most important Congress members. They told me that the things I said have never been heard in Washington. Why not? Because the administration has been marginalizing them. The U.S. administration gave an erroneous report to Congress. Now congress supports Egypt, because its members have realized the truth.
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The [MB] has turned out to be a Masonic movement, a Mafia. In the building [of the MB General Guide] that was burned by the Egyptian people, the Mafia operated – people who acted like don Corleone in Sicily. They would kiss the hands of the General Guide.
People would come from abroad, and would visit the General Guide, not the President. What is this? Jimmy Carter, whom we all used to respect, goes to visit the General Guide?! Whom will he visit now that their building has been burned down?
The Americans have lost their popularity and support in Egypt in an unprecedented way.
Interviewer: Will the religious movements reemerge?
Hussein Fahmi: I ask the religious movements to separate religion from politics. You have greatly harmed the religion of Islam. Separate religion from politics. Focus on politics. Don't bring religion into politics – like that MP, who called upon people to pray in parliament.
Interviewer: Do you believe that the MB could return to power?
Hussein Fahmi: I believe that the MB is completely finished.
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