Boring speeches, opium of the people?

This is a photo taken by Hafez Diab during the inaugural session of the of the 21st international conference of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, taken while the floor was occupied by Minister of Islmic endowments, Mr Zagzoug, were the the two leading religious leaders in Egypt, Sheikh Tantawi and Pope Shenouda display the usual sign of national unity, in a rather unusual way.

Apparently it´s not only the debates in the Egyptian parliament that works as a sleeping pill..Perhaps it´s the boring speeches from the NDP Aparachiki that is the common denominator?