Back in December 2007, I was almost crucified for writing a post entitled: Relationshsips Warning: Do not date Egyptian Men. In that article, I said:
Because of the nature of my work in the tourism sector, I am used to hearing that this or that country has issued a travel warning to its citizens who plan on traveling to Egypt, especially in the aftermath of an attack. Naturally, most warnings address safety and security issues, and some warnings dedicate a section or two to hygiene and harassment. Lately, and because of the increasing number of divorces, custody issues, and domestic violence cases, some countries warn their women from Egyptian men. Yes, they tell them clearly not to get emotionally involved or legally committed to an Egyptian man!
Wandering Scarab - an Egyptian girl living in Canada - prior to her last visit to Egypt, decided to visit the Canadian Consulate website to register with the consulate in Egypt just in case her Canadian husband or her baby girl needed assistance with travel or local authorities. What she read on the site was appalling and ended up in her writing this post.
On the page specific to Egypt the first item displayed recent updates about major events in the country, like strikes and riots or disease outbreak, of which there was none for Egypt. So far so good. The second item displayed warning and recommendations where “EXERCISE HIGH DEGREE OF CAUTION” was in bold and highlighted in blue. I went on to read why the good people in the Foreign Affairs department think that I should exercise a high degree of caution. Among the many warnings, ranging from terrorist attacks and unexploded landmines to substandard medical care, there was this excerpt:
Women, particularly foreign women, are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment, and verbal abuse. This often takes the form of staring, inappropriate remarks, catcalls, and touching. The Department publishes a booklet entitled Her Own Way: A Woman’s Guide to Safe and Successful Travel. Its prime objective is to inform Canadian women and encourage them to travel safely.
There are reports of female Canadian citizens being forced into marriage without their prior knowledge or consent. Parents, relatives and the community may use relentless pressure and emotional blackmail, threatening behavior, abduction, imprisonment and physical violence to coerce young people to enter into marriage. While both men and women experience forced marriages, it is a form of violence most commonly perpetrated against women. They have been unable to return to Canada, and their passports and money have been retained by family members. Canada opposes the practice of forced marriage and urges all countries to respect their international human rights obligations relating to free and full consent to marriage. Forced marriage constitutes a human rights violation under several legal instruments, including international human rights law, to which Canada is a signatory.
The Wandering Scarab thinks that the fact that the Canadian government went though the trouble of creating and promoting such a booklet suggests:
a. they are not exaggerating about the warning, and
b. the incidents of harassment happen frequently enough that there had to be a public warning about them.
This is the first thing Canadian women learn about Egypt. How embarrassing and sad this is.
Trying to overcome her shock and sense of indignation, she was struck by a second clause:
Canadian citizens who were born in Egypt, or who were born outside Egypt to an Egyptian father, are considered citizens of Egypt. Consular assistance, if required, will be granted by the Egyptian authorities on a case-by-case basis.
In other words, because I have dual citizenship, Egypt has the right to refuse the assistance of the Canadian Consulate in the event that I need such assistance. Let me reflect on that for a minute… OK, so even though I'm a Canadian citizen, Egyptian authorities will treat me as an Egyptian citizen, which means that if something happens, I can be denied legal counsel, held without charge indefinitely, interrogated (tortured) in prison, and prosecuted in Egyptian courts.
How was this particular dilemma resolved?
After not much thought I did indeed register. However, I registered using my husband's name, since he does not have the Egyptian citizenship. I avoided putting my name on the forms like it was the plague.
In pursuit of my original cause; Egyptian men taking advantage of foreign women, I found Insteadi who is “a trailing Scottish bird in Cairo” who dedicated a post for the nature of the relationship between Egyptian men and foreign women.
I just read an interesting article from Egypt's Daily Star (nothing like the UK one!). It is about men looking for foreign (note they actually use the word ‘blonde') wives to finance them. I have seen this sort of thing time and time again here, with the foreign woman usually being a tourist when she ‘falls in love' and not understanding that her beau could actually have ulterior motives. Why should she? He says such beautiful things to her, makes her feel so special, so wanted. He is so romantic (it's a shame she doesn't understand Arabic or she'd realize when song lyrics are being translated). Later comes the demonstrations that ‘he's not like that'. Frequently divorce is on the horizon. Soon after that, I don't know what happens with her, but he remarries: IT'S BUSINESS.
While I understand life in Egypt is tougher by the day, it surely can't be fair to enter a marriage you believe is for love, when the reality is that an entire family is plotting how to cajole you out of your money.
Words, beautiful or not, are cheap.
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There may be some confusion about the right of a Canadian citizen (regardless of other citizenship) to have help from the Canadian embassy. The statement quoted, as I read it, says that the Egyptian authority may grant assistance to Egyptians. It does not say that the Canadian authority will not grant assistance to a Canadian.
My understanding and experience suggests that the Canadians will always grant assistance to Canadians regardless of other citizenship they may hold.
“My understanding and experience suggests that the Canadians will always grant assistance to Canadians regardless of other citizenship they may hold.”
They will do, except when the dual national is in the country of their other nationality. In that case, the Canadian authorities are clear that you are under the jurisdiction of that country and they cannot intervene (as it is the internal affairs of their country involving one of their nationals).
Let’s dig deeper of the problem it’s a Sex tourism or looking for a sexy, tanned skin, Egyptian Pharaoh Who is not exist in Canada!
So ALL of US knew that travel to Hot touristic Spots looking for hot sunny holiday to return back at least with a tanned skin and special memories from a country Like Egypt which is a BiG Dream for most of people on the West to visit from childhood..
Hot countries People.. HOT People in emotions, feelings , generous to give friendship and host a guest in their country WAW !!
Look deeper to the women behave with Egyptian men???
as long as the communication channel open for a conversation looking at , staring at , even for more from women side!
Listen ALL it’s a really ashame to hear that “HIGH DEGREE OF CAUTION”
Canadian Women Choice ! Canadian women naive! Canadian women stupid! Canadian women not wise enough And their BiG DaDy at the Canadian Empassy sending such a messages Telling them I’ll be always in your side my ” poor blondes ”
Listen Up Relations between a Tourist and one of the Locals at the country you may visit in the future Poor Canadian women is for 5 Reasons:
1- Money
2- Nice time-Fun-SEX
3- Canadian Visa
4- Real Friendship ( who has long breath to keep in touch)
5- Love happens ( as shit happens)
Thanx for bringing up this subject.
It is not surprising that an official Website like that of the Canadian Consulate chooses to blatantly recycle cheap stereotypes about Egyptian men when the accepted image of the Arab male in the West is that of a ruthless sleezy macho cheat (please look up any Hollywood movie for similar negative stereotyping). While I have no doubt that some of us are, we would easily find inspiration from a number of wife-beating alcoholic cheating Canadians.
The biggest insult in all this is to Canadian women who are far from being the naive silly airheads that would need such warnings.
This warrants a formal complaint from Canadian women and Egyptian men. Unfortunately I am neither.
Joseph
I have been married to an egyptian and I am now divorced. I dont think egyptians are worse than other men, but after divorce of mixed couples problems are bigger. I stayed in Egypt and I guess I am the only foreign woman to do so. Or do you know others having stayed???
There are quite a lot of women who have stayed in Egypt after divorces or being widowed. It all boils down to why you are in the country. Was it JUST because of a husband or because you enjoy your life here? I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Harry’s right — if you present yourself as, for example, an Egyptian by using your Egyptian passport to enter the country, then you are an Egyptian. However, if you do what most dual citizens do and present yourself as a Canadian, the Canadian Government has the obligation — and the opportunity — to offer assistance. Nothing is certain, of course.
This is from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:
“The Canadian government strongly encourages you to use your Canadian passport when travelling abroad, especially when entering the country of your second citizenship. Using your Canadian passport may provide the basis under which Canada can provide you with consular assistance if you run into difficulties. You should also obtain a visa, if that is required for entry by Canadian citizens, and always present yourself as a Canadian when dealing with local authorities.”
Let’s be real here. Many of these foreign women going on sex tours supposedly looking for “real love” are a little over the hill, especially compared to their true loves… and that’s often with an “s”. A man in the West who is ten years older than a woman is often called a cradle robber. A woman who is 20 to 30 years older than a man is unheard of in the West. On top of that, many of these sex tourists aren’t exactly lookers either!
I feel very sorry for women who are gulible enough and have such low self esteem as to fall for the wiles of unscrupulous men from any country.
It is well known however that in countries less wealthy than ones own men and women can find partners of a degree of handsomeness and or beauty that they would never be able to find in their home country. This then is the litmus test!!! If he or she is better looking than anyone who would ever be interested in you at home then they are interested in your MONEY!!!
Wake up and get real.
each country has its own crooked men and genuine ones, just because some fun-seeking women tend to be blindfoldd by the loving expertise and flatterings of their fellow local fun-seeking men in egypt, certainly does not amount to drawing a highly strong and conclusive generalised perception about either of them!. so as much as we appreciate the concern expressed by the canadian embassy, lets all just keep in mind that stuff like that is bound to happen anywhere there is a neon signpost saying “fun”!.
It is funny how you find such a vapid defiance of the slightest of women’s right to choose whoever they would like to be with by government a ’support’ for your previous stereotyping of Egyptian men. it’s even sad that you claim being liberal or feminist.
You make it sound like an organized crime nation roaming about in Egypt. as if women are brainless creatures with no responsibility whatsoever of what happens in their life. how are you different from macho prehistoric camels?