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September 21, 2012 Special Dispatch No. 4969

Egyptian Sunni And Shiite Activists Come To Blows In TV Debate

September 21, 2012
Egypt | Special Dispatch No. 4969

Following are excerpts from a TV show, in which Egyptian Sunni activist Walid Ismail and Egyptian Shiite activist Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud come to blows. The show aired on Al-Shabab TV, via the Internet, on September 9, 2012.

Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV.

Moderator: "Let's just talk about one more thing, since we have only a few minutes left. Let's talk about the citizen and citizenship. Are Egyptian Shiites more loyal to Egypt or to Iran? In Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah said: 'I'm more loyal to Iran than to Lebanon.' Is it the same case with the Shiites in Egypt?"

Shiite activist Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "Things are much simpler than that. There is this bunch of really stupid people, who are like a woodworm gnawing away at the Egyptian people. I'm talking about the Wahhabis. They are the ones who are responsible for everything – they are the ones who have driven a wedge between Muslims and Copts, and between Muslims and Muslims. They themselves are divided into different sects.

"Secondly, I was a Salafi and then I became a Shiite. I wasn't born a Shiite. My father has a Masters degree in Sunni jurisprudence..."

Sunni activist Walid Ismail: "He renounced you..."

Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "You are a liar."

Walid Ismail: "He did, and so did your brothers."

Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "You are a liar..."

Walid Ismail: "By God, they all renounced you..."

Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "Your wife is contacting Shiites, offering to engage them in 'pleasure marriage.'"

Walid Ismail: "That's inappropriate..."

Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "Do you want me to provide recordings?"

Walid Ismail throws something at Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud, who jumps out of his chair

Walid Ismail: "Shame on you! That was below the belt! You're being insolent."

Moderator: That's enough, Walid. [to Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud:] How dare you mention his wife?! Shame on you!

Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "I didn't say anything like that."

Moderator: "Show some respect! Shame on you!"

Mahmoud Ahmad Mahmoud: "I didn't say anything like that."

Moderator: "That's it, Walid. I apologize..."

Dear viewers, "let's take a short break. We'll return shortly."

[...]


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