This is a political campaign ad from the recent, historic Egyptian parliamentary elections that were scheduled after the fall of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak last year during the “Arab Spring” of pro-democracy revolutions in the Middle East. The ad is for Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who campaigned as a liberal Islamist and shows puppets from all walks of life singing his praises (post-Mubarak Egyptian politics has been dominated by Islamist political parties who are keen to show they are devoutly religious, but also inclusive and moderate).

I’m actually a bit late posting this – the ad originally appeared in early May – but it’s timely once again because, sadly, the political situation in Egypt appears to be devolving in to chaos again. Although Egyptians will be voting for a new President on Saturday, earlier this week their highest court invalidated parliamentary elections and effectively returned power to the military regime that has been ruling the country for decades in what’s been described as judicial coup by Mubarak-appointed judges.

The situation seems to be very fluid and more developments are likely to come in the days and weeks ahead. Let’s all pray for and support the people of Egypt. They deserve true freedom and the right to elect their own leaders.

Via The New York Times.