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Egyptian-born couple express optimism
Yasser Ayad and his wife Cherin Abdelsamie attend a traditional song and dance festival in Cairo before the revolution in Egypt. Courtesy Photo
Clarion, Pa. – Yasser Ayad and his wife, Cherin Abdelsamie say they are hopeful for Egypt’s future.
Ayad is an 11-year Clarion University professor in the anthropology, geology and earth science department.
Abdelsamie is the director of the geographical information system of Clarion County. They have been Americans since the late 1990s.
Ayad and Abdelsamie, both natives of Egypt, have watched the news of their homeland’s revolution with concern.
“I’m very hopeful and excited,” Abdelsamie said, “ and I think things will be improving.
After 30 years of suppressing dissent and jailing opposition, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak resigned Feb. 12.
Ruling the industrialized African nation in an emergency state after the assassination of the last president, Mubarak was accused of corruption by the people of Egypt.
Mubarak stepped down after weeks of relatively peaceful protest with millions participating.
Ayad and Abdelsamie were both born in Egypt, and earned degrees at Alexandria University.
“It’s not comfortable living under that kind of rule,” Abdelsamie said.
Abdelsamie said the most blatant and detrimental corruption in Egypt could be found in the police forces.
“We could not speak against the government,” Abdelsamie said, “and there was no basic freedom of speech.”
“The population was frustrated,” Ayad said.
“What we see now are steps for reform,” Ayad said, “and it will have to be step by step.”
Ayad and Abdelsamie both expressed an intense pride in the people of Egypt.
“They are well educated, and they know what they are doing,” Ayad said.
Most impressive to Ayad was the peaceful manner of protest.
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