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Self-proclaimed Liberland attracts Egyptian youth

Egypt’s young generation is hanging by a thread, but Liberland has given the youth some hope amid mounting instability and high unemployment rates in the country.
Demonstrators wave a flag with a picture of youth activist Gaber Salah on a defaced monument, in the centre of Tahrir Square as protesters against Egypt's Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and those against the Muslim Brotherhood hold rallies, in Cairo November 18, 2013. The government says the monument honours the "martyrs" not only of the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising, but also of what it calls the "June 30 revolution," referring to the date of the mass disturbances that precipitated Mursi's ouster; bu
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A young Czech named Vik Jedlicka invited global citizens on April 13 to become citizens of a new state called Liberland, which he founded on an area of 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) situated between Croatia and Serbia on the banks of the Danube River. This initiative has caused a stir in Egypt. Liberland exists only on the Internet, and no state or international organization has so far recognized it. But what is strange is that many Egyptian youths have filled out the online immigration form available on the website set up by Liberland’s founder. Out of 50,000 immigration applications submitted, 20,000, or 40%, were submitted by Egyptians, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper. Social media has paid much attention to Liberland and how to immigrate to it.

Mohammed Hashim Bahri, the head of the psychology department at Al-Azhar University, told Al-Monitor: “From Liberland’s official website, we found that the slogan of the alleged state is ‘live life and let others live it with you.’ This slogan has attracted Egyptian youth, who dream of immigrating amid a fiery political conflict and political divisions. Rejecting the other has become indicative of the current situation. Every party believes that it is right and wants to eliminate the other side. Young people have become frustrated and now dream of a place where they can freely exchange views.”

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