Nevin El-Kabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Major General Ashraf Attia, Governor of Aswan, launched the “Shield of Tolerance… A Level Without Vengeance” initiative from Aswan Governorate, in the presence of Dr. Ali Gomaa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Misr El Kheir Foundation, Wasfaa Asran, founder of the “Shield of Tolerance… Upper Egypt without Vengeance” initiative, Sheriff El-Sayed Idris, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee in Egypt, and a group of Islamic and Christian clerics, mayors, sheikhs, and heads of reconciliation committees.
The initiative comes within the framework of coordination and cooperation between the government represented by the Ministry of Social Solidarity and its various agencies and civil society organizations, in order to seek to eliminate negative phenomena within Egyptian society.
The Minister of Social Solidarity appreciated all the great efforts and tireless work behind this great initiative, “Shield of Tolerance… A Level without Revenge,” expressing her happiness at the launch of the “Day of Tolerance,” hoping that it would become a day of tolerance; The beginning of the end for this abhorrent tradition, which is “revenge”, this crime that has its roots in Upper Egypt for centuries, and reflects an intertwined system of false awareness based on customs and traditions far from true religion, morals and conscience, and steeped in tribal and family fanaticism, which is an inappropriate crime. With the Egyptian society that exerts its utmost efforts to build a new republic based on respect for the constitution, law, citizenship and sustainable development.
And “Al-Qabbaj” stated that most social studies indicate that most revenge crimes are related to disputes in economic interests between families, or as a dispute over the position of mayor or others, or social disputes related to honor, calibration, and even children’s play disputes that may bring endless revenge conflicts between Families, and what is new in revenge crimes is their entry into the field of cybercrime and the use of social media by publishing pictures, news and rumors about a member of a family that would ignite the flames of revenge between families and destroy social peace.
The Minister of Social Solidarity explained that most of the social research in the field of revenge indicates that women play a pivotal role in the revenge system, through the socialization of males that masculinity means the ability to take revenge, and the need for a young male to learn to carry weapons and be proficient in using them, and here proverbs come into play. Popularity, which mothers and grandmothers say about the importance of taking revenge and the shame that befalls a man who does not take his revenge, is the main ammunition to urge men to commit revenge without hesitation, and although there are some women who encourage and seek revenge, there are other models of women who play a great role Also, through the social upbringing of children in the bloodshed, and spreading the culture of peace, dialogue and love, so it is very important that we encourage the positive role of women in the positive upbringing of children, especially males, on a culture of tolerance, acceptance of others, and respect for the law, in order to take away the lost rights.
Al-Qabbaj stressed that the crime of revenge leaves behind catastrophic effects, the most important of which are poverty, family disintegration, widowhood of wives, mothers’ loss of their children, and the spread of deviations and other crimes such as arms trade in all its forms. And he abandons his responsibilities towards society, and this crime threatens the whole society and spreads chaos, confusion and violence in it, which in no way encourages development and investment.
The Minister of Social Solidarity indicated that the Egyptian government, the scientific community in universities and civil society organizations gave the issue of revenge special importance and encouraged all initiatives that would reduce this crime and uproot its roots from the ground up, saluting the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif for his efforts. Which is invaluable for defusing strife and preserving the blood of families, praising the support of Dr. Ali Gomaa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Permanent Foundation of Misr Al-Khair, as well as the organized institutional support provided by the Foundation of Misr Al-Khair to support all official and private initiatives in this field, on top of which is the “Upper Without Vengeance” initiative. In which she works with diligence and diligence, the brave professor, Safaa Asran.
And she explained that the Ministry of Social Solidarity, while appreciating all the customary reconciliation initiatives that take place to stop bloodshed and spread a culture of peace between families, and all the activities and events that serve the conflicting families religiously, culturally and subsistence, however, it believes that more effort should be made in the field of preventive protection from the system of social and value revenge. That is, making proactive efforts to prevent the involvement of individuals and families in the crime of revenge, by supporting sustainable development in all its economic, social and cultural dimensions in Upper Egypt, foremost of which is changing the system of awareness and values that support revenge, raising awareness of the system of alternative values based on rejecting fanaticism and intolerance, and encouraging a culture of Dialogue, negotiation and respect for the application of the law, given that the state is the only institution entrusted with achieving justice and deterrence.
In this context, the Ministry of Social Solidarity has established a set of national programs aimed at changing the system of negative habits and practices in society, foremost of which is the awareness program for community development, which is concerned with developing community awareness in 12 issues of concern to the Egyptian family, in order to change social thinking and behavior in a positive direction. Supportive of development and social peace, and the Early Childhood Care Program, which is concerned with the positive upbringing of children before school and raising them on positive ideas of acceptance of the other, tolerance and peace, in addition to the Positive Family Education Program, which is based on educating families on the rules of sound education and correcting children based on participation, love and bearing responsibility, and cultivating Positive values away from fanaticism, extremism, and violence, and a program to promote citizenship values and acceptance of diversity that works to implant citizenship values and practices and reject all forms of violence, intolerance, and extremism in societies that suffer from sectarian, tribal, or family violence.
And she stated that these programs work through a group of social pioneers, 15 thousand social pioneers, who are present with families permanently, and a large network of local leaders and large and local civil associations that are supported by the Ministry of Solidarity technically and financially, and in cooperation with the media, to spread awareness more broadly among large sectors of society. Public, announcing that the Ministry of Social Solidarity is fully prepared to support the Upper Egypt Without Vengeance initiative, through all field programmes, to contribute positively to the preventive protection against the crime of revenge with all state agencies and loyal civil leaders.
Develop mechanisms to improve living conditions
For his part, Dr. Ali Gomaa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “Misr El Kheir” Foundation, affirmed the Foundation’s interest in supporting efforts aimed at human development, which represent the main element in the Foundation’s work in six basic areas: social solidarity, education, health, scientific research, aspects of life and integrated development, pointing out that The importance of preserving human development and developing mechanisms to improve life conditions in all directions, primarily economic and social, and the stable family relationships that benefit society.
Gomaa pointed out that the “Misr El Kheir” Foundation was proactive in implementing initiatives and projects aimed at preserving the entity of the Egyptian family, foremost of which is the Values and Life project, which aims to re-disseminate human values in society in 27 governorates, and 160 initiatives have been reached to spread societal values, including an initiative For cleanliness, an initiative to care for the elderly, an initiative to protect girls from harassment, an initiative to spread happiness, and many other initiatives. The initiatives turned into scientific projects.
He added that the “Shield of Tolerance… Upper Egypt without Vengeance” initiative, which we are present today to celebrate, demonstrates the state’s support and interest, and its keenness to achieve comprehensive development and change the lives of citizens in Upper Egypt, by raising cultural awareness and rejecting some wrong habits and legacies, including revenge. And in a way that establishes the values of tolerance among the people of the country, stressing that society will not progress and achieve development except through values. It is not by bread alone that a person lives, because values are the basis.
He stressed the importance of establishing the principles of cohesion, interdependence and solidarity so that everyone can live in an atmosphere of love and harmony as one bloc and on the heart of a man to achieve hopes and aspirations in a society in which peace, security, safety and stability prevail through loyal sons.
For her part, Safaa Asran, owner and founder of the “Shield of Tolerance… A Level without Vengeance” initiative, confirmed that the initiative is based on presenting the “Shield of Tolerance… A Level without Vengeance” instead of the shroud, which some families refuse, especially in cases of equal blood, as this contributed to Ending a number of revenge rivalries in some, which lasted for many years between families.
Safaa Asran indicated that she was able, during 11 years, which is the age of the initiative, to end a number of revenge rivalries in some governorates of Upper Egypt, which lasted for many years, noting that revenge is one of the bad legacies in Upper Egypt, which claimed the lives of thousands of young people because of customs and traditions, adding that she is participating. In the customary sessions held between families to stop blood feuds, praising the government’s support for the initiative, so that the blood guardian feels that the state is honoring them in front of their families, the various families, and those present at the reconciliation sessions, in the presence of governors, security directors, and senior officials.
