Last night the Interior Ministry fulfilled its duty by imposing law to disperse an unlicensed seminar. May Allah (God) be of help to it. It is not an easy task with people who conduct unlicensed seminars, activities and publications; unlicensed groups and secret (political) parties; unlicensed culture, imagination, feelings, questions, dreams and sorrows; unlicensed jokes, songs, poems and pens; an unlawful (religious) sect; an unaccepted calendar; and banned religious ceremonies; unlicensed seminars, talks in private gatherings; unlicensed online forums and websites; unlicensed mobile text messages, internet networks and computer programs; unlicensed rumours, donations and entire villages – which also have unlicensed names; unlicensed palm trees, sea, sea breeze, history, accents (dialects), names, titles, visas and visit permits; demands of salary increments are unlicensed, satellite are unlicensed and mating levels are unlicensed; demanding jobs is unlicensed; making projections is unlicensed; unlicensed dignities; unlicensed sovereignty; unlicensed travels to attend championships; unlicensed to talk about mothers’ reputations; unlicensed citizens – with an unlicensed history and an unlicensed future. Until God decrees and gives them a new people, Adel Flaifel will be the only one licensed.

A lot of those following up on Algerian political affairs are posing this question for a number of reasons, most importantly the low turn out of 35 per cent in the parliamentary elections held on May 17 which was the lowest since independence. This means that the parliament doesn't reflect all the voices in this country because those boycotting and the silent majority today has increased at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the heads of the political parties spoke about the results and the seats they won but have yet to respond to the message sent out by the constituents who did not turn out in full force last Thursday and have preferred instead to boycott the elections rather than vote ‘Yes for Change’. The government too remained mum and did not respond to the message put out by voters while the parties reacted like ostriches do when they try and escape the storm. What happened on May 17 is a defeat to all the candidates and parties, including those who won, because they all failed to convince the voters to go to the election centres. Those who won secured their seats thanks to votes from their friends and families.

The weekly Akhbar Al Youm newspaper reported today that a young man had his kidney removed at a government hospital for 15,000 Egyptian Pounds. The young man hid from his family what he did but his plot was uncovered in front of family and friends when his health deteriorated. The man's father stressed that his son sold his kidney through a network of middlemen who work at the hospital.

It really is a farce! The last thing I expected in my entire life is to look for a Wasta (influence) to register for a Master's degree. And just to clarify to you, I want to study at my own expense and not at the expense of anyone else. And to further explain, I don't work for the government, so I am not studying to excuse myself from working the official hours and not to take the 100 Lira increment given to civil servants.
I am a man who wants to complete his studies. Am I doing anything wrong?
Why am I not allowed to complete my education in a specialisation different from my Bachelor's degree? Is it because I got average marks in my Bachelor's I am now not allowed to proceed to my Master's? Fine, I don't want government agencies to acknowledge my qualifications. I have not even applied for the Civil Service and don't know where it is located. I also swear I don't want to work for the government. I was to study and pay for it from my own pockets – in a private university too.