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{{current|date=January 2011}}
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{{Infobox uprising
{{Infobox uprising
| title = 2011 Egyptian protests
| title = 2011 Egyptian protests

Revision as of 19:13, 26 January 2011

2011 Egyptian protests
Khaled Mohamed Saeed holding up flailing Hosni Mubarak
Date25 January 2011 – ongoing
Casualties
Death(s)4[1]
InjuriesAt least 100 protestors were injured in Cairo alone[2]

The 2011 Egyptian protests are a continuing series of street demonstrations, protests and civil disobedience acts taking place throughout Egypt from January 2011 onwards, with organisers counting on the Tunisian uprising to inspire the crowds to mobilize. The demonstrations and riots were reported to have started over police brutality, state of emergency laws, unemployment, desire to raise the minimum wage, lack of housing, food inflation, corruption, lack of freedom of speech and poor living conditions.[3] The protests' main goal is to oust President Hosni Mubarak's regime, which has been in power for almost 30 years.[4] While localised protests were already commonplace in previous years, major protests and riots erupted all over the country starting on 25 January, known as the "Day of Anger", the date set by Egyptian opposition groups and others for a major demonstration.[3] The 2011 protests have been called "unprecedented" for Egypt, [5] and "some of the most serious civil unrest in recent memory" in the country,[6] with Cairo being declared "a war zone" [7] by the British media. For the first time, Egyptians from all walks of life with different socio-economic backgrounds have joined the protests[8] and united in chanting "Change, Freedom and Social Justice for All".

Background

Emergency law

Egypt is a semi-presidential republic under Emergency Law (Law No. 162 of 1958)[9] since 1967, except for an 18-month break in 1980. Under the law, police powers are extended, constitutional rights suspended and censorship is legalized.[10] The law sharply circumscribes any non-governmental political activity: street demonstrations, non-approved political organizations, and unregistered financial donations are formally banned. Some 17,000 people are detained under the law, and estimates of political prisoners run as high as 30,000[11]. Under that "state of emergency", the government has the right to imprison individuals for any period of time, and for virtually no reason, thus keeping them in prisons without trials for any period. The government continues the claim that opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood could come into power in Egypt if the current government did not forgo parliamentary elections, confiscate the group's main financiers' possessions, and detain group figureheads, actions which are virtually impossible without emergency law and judicial-system independence prevention. However, critics argue that this goes against the principles of democracy, which include a citizen's right to a fair trial and their right to vote for whichever candidate and/or party they deem fit to run their country.

Mubarak's presidency

President Hosni Mubarak has ruled Egypt since 1981. His government, which has been criticised in the media and amongst NGOs[which?], is supported by the United States because of his "persecution of the Islamists [and] generally supportive stance towards Israel."[12] As a result, the initial reactions to Hosni Mubarak's abuses by the U.S. were muted, and most instances of socio-political protest in the country, when they occurred at all, rarely made major news headlines[12].[citation needed]

Corruption

While in office, political corruption in the Mubarak administration's Ministry of Interior has risen dramatically, due to the increased power over the institutional system that is necessary to secure the prolonged presidency. Such corruption has led to the frequent imprisonment of political figures and young activists without trials, illegal undocumented hidden detention facilities, and rejecting universities, mosques, newspapers staff members based on political inclination.[citation needed] On a personnel level, each individual officer can and will violate citizens' privacy in his area, using unconditioned arrests, common torture and abuse of power, depending on simply brute force, rather than law, to enforce order in the officer's designated area.[citation needed] This has resulted in the common belief that "A policeman is more dangerous than a criminal".[citation needed]

The rise to power of powerful business men in the NDP in the government and People's Assembly led to massive waves of anger during the years of Ahmed Nazif's government. As a result, frequent laws and bills are passed, with undergiant monopolists (such as Ahmed Ezz's) influence serving personal and corporational financial interests rather than public's. Transparency International (TI) is an international organisation addressing corruption, including, but not limited to, political corruption. In 2010, TI's Corruption Perceptions Index report assessed Egypt with a CPI score of 3.1, based on perceptions of the degree of corruption from business people and country analysts, with 10 being very clean and 0 being highly corrupt. Egypt ranked 98th out of the 178 countries included in the report[13].

Police brutality

Khaled Mohamed Saeed died under disputed circumstances in the Sidi Gaber area of Alexandria on 6 June 2010.[14] Multiple witnesses have testified that Saeed was beaten to death by the police,[15]

On 25 June Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, led a rally in Alexandria against alleged abuses by the police and visited Saeed's family to offer condolences.[16]

It has been reported that many police have been restrained in the use of violence. One policeman has been quoted to have said to a protester that he had only three months of duty left and after that "I'll be on the other side of the barricade."[17]

Economic policy

About 40 percent of Egypt's 80-million population lives on or around two dollars per day, and a large part of the population relies on subsidised goods[3].

Protests

A photograph of demonstrators during the night of January 25, 2011, on Nile Street, Giza, near the 6th October Bridge, surrounded by police in riot gear. This group of demonstrators later moved to al-Tahrir Square, in Downtown Cairo, where the main protests were being held.

In Egypt, at least six cases of self-immolation have been reported, including a man arrested while trying to set himself on fire in downtown Cairo.[18] Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafar, a 49-year-old restaurant owner, set himself alight in front of the Egyptian Parliament.[19][20]

Protests took place in several cities, including Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Ismailiya.[21] A policeman was reported to have died in Cairo, while in Suez two protesters died.[21] In Cairo, police forces used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who in turn threw stones at police, eventually forcing them to retreat.[21] Twitter was taken off-line.[22][23][24] The same Facebook group which originally declared January 25 as a day of protests, has scheduled Friday, January 28, to be another "day of revolution" [25].

Self-immolation incidents in Egypt
Name Residence Date of
self-immolation		 Status Ref(s)
1 Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafar El-Qanater 17 January 2011 [19][20]
2 Mohammed Farouk Hassan Cairo 18 January 2011 [26]
3 Ahmed Hashim al-Sayyed Alexandria 18 January 2011 Died 18 January 2011 [27][28]
4 Mohammed Ashour Sorour Cairo 18 January 2011 [29]

Scale of protests

Thousands protested in Cairo on 25 January, with 15,000 alone occupying Tahrir Square[30]; 20,000 in various locations across Alexandria,[31] 200 demonstrators were in the southern city of Aswan, 2000 in the eastern city of Ismailiya; and about 3000 in the northern city of Mahallah.[32].

Arrests

Rights activists have said that security agents have detained a number of protesters who were taking part in the "25th" demonstration. Twenty-five people have been arrested at Assiut[33]. According to Gamal Eid, director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). He noted that security agents seized banners hoisted by the protesters[33]. Security sources said that Assuit's police arrested approximately 50 young people the night before "25th" demonstration and confined them in central security trucks[33]. Meanwhile, sources at the Muslim Brotherhood, said a number of the group’s members have been detained in Mohandessin before heading to join "25th" demonstration[33]. Ayman Nour, the founder of the liberal opposition El-Ghad Party, has tweeted that his son was taken by an unmarked car[34]. Security forces in Cairo arrested Jack Shenker, a Guardian news reporter, who secretly recorded his subsequent journey in a police van. Shenker was beaten several times along with numerous other protesters, after which they was loaded onto one of the security trucks. Shenker was crowded with 43 others in the vehicle, whose only ventilation were thick metal grates. They were driven for hours, and one of the protesters, who was diabetic, fell into a coma. Others futilely tried to get the truck driver to stop. After stopping near a government security headquarters far outside the city, a policeman unlocked the vehicle door, wanting a specific prisoner, Ayman Nour's son. The detainees managed to overpower the policeman and escape, flagging down cars to evacuate the unconscious man, while the rest worked to find their way back to Cairo.[34]

Mubarak's family escape

Gamal Mubarak, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's son – who has been widely tipped as his successor – fled to London with his family on 25 January 2011.[35] Officials did not immediately confirm the report that Gamal Mubarak has fled to the British capital with his wife and daughter aboard a private jet.[36][37] Later reports said that Mubarak's family did not, in fact, flee. [38]

Reactions

International

  • European Union European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Egyptian authorities should listen to their people, deal with their problems and respect their right to demonstrate, urging the "Egyptian authorities to respect and to protect the right of Egyptian citizens to manifest their political aspirations".[39]
  • Germany Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "very concerned" and called on all concerned to show restraint.[40]
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the authorities and protesters in Egypt to show restraint and avoid violence. He urged the Egyptian authorities to "listen to the concerns" of demonstrators.[41]
  • United States United States of America's Secretary of State Hillary Clinton


Other domestic

On 26 January, Egypt's EGX stock market index fell on speculation the instability would spread.[42]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Egypt protests live blog". 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Three Dead in Egypt As Protestors Demand Mubarak's Exit". ABC News. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Jailan Zayan (2011-01-25). "AFP – Egypt braces for nationwide protests". AFP. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  4. ^ "AFP – ElBaradei: Egyptians should copy Tunisian revolt". AFP. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  5. ^ Murphy, Dan (January 25, 2011). "Inspired by Tunisia, Egypt's protests appear unprecedented". The Christian Science Monitor.
  6. ^ Fahim, Kareem (January 25, 2011). "Broad Protests Across Egypt Focus Fury on Mubarak". The New York Times.
  7. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2011/jan/25/middleeast-tunisia
  8. ^ "Violent Clashes Mark Protests Against Mubarak's Rule". 25 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  9. ^ Law 1958/162 (Emergency Law) Template:Ar at EMERglobal Lex, part of the Edinburgh Middle East Report. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  10. ^ Egypt After 9/11: Perceptions of the United States March 26, 2004
  11. ^ R. Clemente Holder (1994-08). "Egyptian Lawyer's Death Triggers Cairo Protests". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0794/9407060.htm" ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b "Hosni Mubarak". The New York Times. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  13. ^ "CPI 2010 table". Transparency International. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  14. ^ "Anger on the streets of Cairo". The National (Abu Dhabi). 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  15. ^ "Anger in Alexandria: 'We're afraid of our own government'". Almasry Alyoum. 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  16. ^ "ElBaradei leads anti-torture rally". Al Jazeera English. 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  17. ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE70O2GG20110125?sp=true
  18. ^ David Rosenberg (2011-01-24). "Self-Immolation Spreads Across the Mideast, Inspiring Protest, Controversy". The Media Line. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  19. ^ a b "In Egypt, man sets himself on fire, driven by economic woes". Ahram Online. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  20. ^ a b Template:Ar"مصري يحرق نفسه أمام البرلمان". aljazeera. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  21. ^ a b c "Egypt protests: Three killed in 'day of revolt'". BBC News Online. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  22. ^ http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/4773.aspx
  23. ^ http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9206459/Twitter_blocked_in_Egypt_after_political_unrest
  24. ^ http://mashable.com/2011/01/25/twitter-blocked-in-egypt/
  25. ^ http://www.facebook.com/ElShaheeed?v=app_2344061033
  26. ^ Dina Zayed (18 January 2011). "Egyptians set themselves ablaze after Tunisia unrest". Reuters. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  27. ^ "Tunisia new government is fractured by resignations". Yalibnan. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Mother of Ahmed Hashim al-Sayyed". Yahoo News. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  29. ^ Template:Ar"موظف بـ'مصر للطيران' يهدد بحرق نفسه أمام نقابة الصحفيين". El-Aosboa Newspaper. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Egyptians report poor communication services on Day of Anger". Almasry Alyoum. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  31. ^ Jonathan Manthorpe (2011-01-26). "Egyptians tests Tunisia's Twitter revolution". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  32. ^ Amir Ahmed (2011-01-25). "Thousands protests in Egypt". CNN. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  33. ^ a b c d "Egypt govt security detains protesters in Cairo and Assiut". Almasry Alyoum. 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  34. ^ a b Jack Shenker (2011-01-26). "Egypt protests: 'We ran a gauntlet of officers beating us with sticks'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  35. ^ "'Beginning of the end' for Egypt's Mubarak as son and wife flee". International Business Times. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  36. ^ "Egypt: President's son and family 'have fled to the UK'". Adnkronos. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  37. ^ "Egypt president's son, family flee to Britain". The Times of India. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  38. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20029614-503543.html
  39. ^ http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT_PROTEST?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Egypt protesters clash for 2nd day with police
  40. ^ http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT_PROTEST?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Egypt protesters clash for 2nd day with police
  41. ^ http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=539828682 UK Foreign Secretary William Hague comment on protests in Egypt
  42. ^ Egypt Stocks Drop Most in Six Weeks on Concern Tunisia Unrest May Spread – Bloomberg
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