Coffee with Morsi
Egyptian journalist Amr Khalifa imagines a conversation over a poorly made cup of coffee from the prison canteen with deposed President Mohamed Morsi in 2024.
by Amr Khalifa
July 5th 2024, Cairo
In solitary confinement the universe is a silent, invisible mate that snickers at your loneliness. Two years prior, my interview with the current president, Abdel Fattah el Sisi, resulted in an extended visit to a prison cell on the outskirts of Cairo and the premature end of a promising journalism career.
In my cell, my lonely thoughts were interrupted when the corrections officer, face emblazoned with a humane smile, walked in and announced, “Rise and shine, Amr. Time for your hour of exercise in the courtyard.”
Outside, as I sipped on a poorly made cup of coffee from the prison canteen, my eyes first made contact with a man standing across the way in a corner of the courtyard. Disbelievingly, I did a double take as his look confirmed the very familiar bearded face. It was, indeed, Mohamed Morsi, the ousted president. The soft smile dancing on the outer periphery of his lips prompted my feet to saunter to within two feet of his, despite my better judgment.
And so began my coffee with Morsi.
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