Egyptians leery of rules that would curb night life

CAIRO – Egypt’s capital prides itself on being city that never sleeps, with crowds filling cafes and shops open into till the small hours. So, the government is facing a backlash from businesses and the public as it vows to impose new nationwide rules closing stores and restaurants early.

Officials say the step is necessary to conserve electricity in a nation buckling under economic crisis and fuel shortages. But the decision has a strong undercurrent of social control: A desire by secular conservatives and Islamists alike to tame a population they see as too unruly, especially in a post-revolution atmosphere of strikes, protests and relentless demands on a beleaguered government.

Simply put, officials say, Egyptians should stop thinking they can do whatever they want, should go to sleep early and work in the morning.

“Egyptian life has turned nocturnal. Egypt should not be a nocturnal state, but a morning state like all countries,” Legal Affairs Minister Mohammed Mahsoub, an Islamist, told reporters on Wednesday. “Energy, endeavor, labor and working hard should be the foundation.”

“I call on all those thinking of opposing this to think about themselves – when should they wake up and go to sleep and when do their kids go to bed and wake up,” he said. “This is really a behavioral issue.”

He and other officials said the regulations will come into effect on Saturday. Under the new rules, shops would be required to close at 10 p.m. and restaurants and cafes at midnight. Businesses that have a tourism license – which comes at a fee – would be exempted, meaning that most bars and upscale restaurants would stay open later. Violators would face a fine and, if they persist, closure.

But many are furious over what they see as an outright violation of the nation’s psyche.

The proposed regulation has dominated the national conversation for weeks. Opponents, including chambers of commerce around the country, warn that it will damage an already suffering economy. Those who work night shifts will lose their jobs and, with Egyptians unable to shop late, sales will be stifled and small businesses will be forced to lay off workers, they say.

Others argue that it is biased against the poor, given that venues catering to rich Egyptians will be able to get tourist licenses – which are not necessarily linked to actual business with tourists – at a time when small business owners are struggling to make ends meet because of the economic crisis.

“I wish that President Mohammed Morsi would make decisions that put the poor people ahead of the rich,” said Ibrahim Mohammed, referring to the country’s Islamist leader, now in his fourth month in office. Mohammed owns a street kiosk that sells cookies and cigarettes in central Cairo and stays open until midnight.

Opponents argue it will be virtually impossible to enforce. Cairo, home to an estimated 18 million people, has hundreds of thousands of small businesses found on almost every street, alley and lane. Some, like eateries, juice shops and pharmacies, never close. Night-owl Egyptians are accustomed to being able to buy virtually anything, while away the time at a coffee shop or even get a haircut at any time of night.