Obama at the pyramids after his much-awaited speech to the Arab world. Photograph: The White House/Pete Souza

President Obama's long waited speech to the Muslim world failed to attract the attention of the few coffee bars of London’s Edgware Road, traditionally where the Arab community gathers to watch important televised events.


Broadcast just after 11am London time, Obama's speech lost out to the usual fare of the Arabic pop pumping out of the widescreen TVs. Only two cafes were tuned to hear the US President’s words.

Wassim Sammor, a 37-year-old Syrian restaurant manager, was dismissive of the initiative even before Obama started. He said: "A speech won't change anything. Restoring our stolen rights is what would make a difference" He added that Obama should head to Tel Aviv as the Israelis are part of the problem in the Middle East and they need to be reasoned with in order to achieve peace.

The President started his speech with the traditional Muslim greeting Assalaamu alaykum (“peace on you”) and discussed a wide range of issues; the necessity to fight the stereotypical image of Islam as well as extremism, the need for democracy in the region; the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and women’s right to education. He repeatedly quoted verses from the Quran.

His attempt to impress and communicate with Muslims using their own language and cultural dictionary seemed to have pushed the right buttons for some. “His understanding of Islam is more profound than that of Bush” said Mosaad Omar, a 43-year-old Egyptian waiter at Myramar restaurant, “He quoted the Quran to reject violence and killing.”

The few people sitting at Myramar all agreed the words were well chosen and they resonated greatly, all of them however seemed to think that acting upon these words is what would make them actually believe in the possibility of any change.

“We want Obama to live up to the image we have OF him” said Bayomi Abdul Aziz, a 36-year-old waiter from Cairo. "Although addressing all the right issues, He avoided getting into the practicality of details.

“He was very general when talking about Iraq and Palestine” said Bayomi, “yet he seems to be riding all the right waves”.