Rabaa massacre

On 14 August 2013, Egyptian security forces launched an assault against two groups of sit-in protesters supporting former president Mohamed Morsi. The largest protest camp was located at Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, which was destroyed during the assaults. Violent retaliation followed in several cities across the country.

A national state of emergency was declared in response and curfews were instituted in many areas. The Egyptian Health Ministry put the number of dead at 638, of which 595 were civilians and 43 police officers, with at least 3,994 injured. The total casualty count made 14 August the deadliest day in recent Egyptian history, surpassing the number killed in the 2011 Egyptian revolution which toppled Morsi's predecessor Hosni Mubarak.

Background

See also: 2013 Egyptian coup d'état and Political violence in Egypt (2013)

Following the 2011 Egyptian revolution, the subsequent instability and its culmination in the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in early July 2013, tens of thousands of supporters of Morsi, including entire families, began to move into protest camps calling for his return to the presidency. The protestors and the interim government remained in standoff for six weeks as internal and external forces urged all parties to work toward a democratic solution. The government threatened a raid on the protest camps on multiple occasions. Allegedly, an ultimatum was issued prior to 14 August, although Al-Azhar, Egypt's official Islamic authority, denied that such a warning had been given. Initiatives that tried to resolve the tensions, including foreign-backed efforts by Gulf Arab countries, the E.U. and the U.S.A., failed to yield any positive outcomes before state authorities decreed these a failure and issued the ultimatum.

Warning

File:Mosri supporters barricades.jpg

Morsi loyalists Building concrete walls on public roads leading to their sit in

On 11 August, efforts by the international community to end the standoff and find a peaceful resolution to the crisis failed. Egypt's prime minister warned just ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday that ends Sunday that the government's decision to clear the sit-ins was "irreversible."

According to the Interior Ministry, the plan was originally to disperse the six-week-old sit-ins gradually by forming cordons around the two sites as early as dawn Monday, 12 August, allowing protesters to leave but preventing others from getting in, to minimize casualties before using water cannons and tear gas. However, leaked news of the plan, prompted thosands protesters to defiantly flood into two protest camps, prompting police to postpone the move.

The protesters have been fortifying the sit-ins camps. In Rabaah, men with helmets, sticks and what appeared to be protective sports equipment guarded barricades made of sandbags, truck tires and bricks. They have also built three concrete waist-high barriers against armored vehicles.

Clashes

At approximately 7:00 on 14 August 2013, Egyptian security forces moved into two protest camps in Cairo. According to the Interior Ministry, the plan was originally to stop the protests gradually by cutting off supply lines while providing a safe exit for those who elected to leave. However, by 8:00 the smaller of the two protest camps had been leveled. The security forces used armored vehicles, bulldozers, live ammunition, and tear gas in clearing the camp sites. Many protestors were shot and at least one was burned alive. Snipers fired upon those who tried to flee the camps. Egyptian state television aired images purporting to show weapons confiscated from the sit-in protester's camps, including automatic rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Various journalists and news agencies discredited these claims as multiple independent journalists had visited and inspected the camps for weapons prior to the attacks, finding none of the purported weapons caches. A TV channel supporting the government aired unverified infrared footage purporting to show Muslim Brotherhood members firing automatic weapons against security forces.

Immediately after the morning raids, the National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy, a pro-Morsi group, reiterated its rejection of violence and called on its members to continue to protest "to stop the massacre". Protesters blocked important roads, stopping traffic. In late morning, Morsi supporters marched toward eastern Cairo before running into police barricades and gunfire. By midday the streets were deserted. In the afternoon, the protestors managed to push the police back to the point where they could get into the hospital. However, snipers continued to fire upon those attempting to enter the hospital. By dusk, the government forces seized control destroying what remained of the protest camp.

Death toll

According to the Egyptian Health Ministry at least 235 civilians were initially reported killed on 14 August. An additional 43 police officers were killed in the violence, according to the Interior Ministry. An estimated 900 people were injured and hundreds more were arrested. According to the New York Times, those figures were likely to rise as more information became available. The Muslim Brotherhood estimated the death toll at 2,000. Of the dead, 37 were from the town of Fayoum. /> Many of the dead appeared to be teenagers. The next morning the death toll was at least 635 of which 595 were civilians, including 288 at Rabaa Al-Adawiya, the pro-Morsi camp in eastern Cairo, with 3,994 wounded, according to the Health Ministry. Many deaths were also reported in Giza. The ministry refuses to acknowledge in their official tally over 250 charred and mutilated bodies in Al-Iman mosque in Cairo. and at least 140 bodies at the Eman mosque. At al-Iman mosque in Nasr City the next day, hundreds of bodies were still on the floor of a makeshift morgue and wrapped in shrouds and kept cool with blocks of ice, some bodies also bore gunshot wounds and many were charred beyond recognition.

Among the dead was the daughter of Mohamed el-Beltagy, a prominent lawmaker. Amongst the four journalists killed on the day were: a Sky News cameraman named Mick Deane; Gulf News' Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, who was 26 and killed near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque;Egyptian journalist Ahmed Abdel Gawad who died as the security forces moved in to the camp; and photojournalist for RNN Mosab El-Shami.

Aftermath

The violence then spread across the country as people learned what had happened in Cairo and took to the streets in anger. In the Giza Governorate, an angry mob attacked a police station, one of 21 such attacks according to the interior ministry.Egypt's interior ministry told that at least seven Coptic Christian churches had been vandalized or torched by suspected Islamist. While, coptic rights group the Maspero Youth Union(MYU) estimated that as many as 36 churches were "completely" devastated by fire across nine Egyptian governorates, including Minya, Sohag and Assiut, and many other churches were looted or stormed in ensuing street violence. Christian activists accused Morsi supporters of waging "a war of retaliation against Copts in Egypt." According to the government, Muslim Brotherhood supporters attacked government headquarters in several governorates. Supporters of Morsi staged solidarity protests against the crackdown, with clashes reported, in Ismailia, Alexandria, Suez, Upper Egypt's Assiyut and Aswan and other places. In defiance of the curfew, Morsi supporters vowed to return to the streets to continue their agitation. Egyptian banks and its stock market were closed through 15 August. Rail travel into and out of Cairo was also suspended. In Giza, hundreds of Morsi supporters also set fire to local government offices; the government then authorised the use of live ammunition on anyone attacking state buildings.

Tamarod called on its supporters to protest on 16 August and to form neighbourhood watch groups to guard against Morsi supporters; in like measure the Morsi supporters vowed to keep up their campaign to get the former leader reinstated.

State of emergency and curfew

Map showing extent of the curfew initially issued by the Egyptian government on 14 August, 2013. The curfew was lifted in South Sinai Governorate the next day

The interim government declared a month-long state of emergency beginning at 16:00. By doing so, the right to a trial and due process of the law was suspended. A 19:00 curfew was also declared in 14 of the 27 governorates (Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Suez, Qena, Ismailia, Asyut, Sohag, Beni Suef, Minya, Beheira, South Sinai, North Sinai and Faiyum). The army promised to enforce the curfew with the "utmost firmness." The curfew would be enforced from 21:00-06:00 for a month, along with the state of emergency. The following day, Egypt's cabinet lifted the curfew in South Sinai to avoid harming tourism in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Reactions

Domestic

Interim Vice President Mohamed El-Baradei resigned in protest at the crackdown saying his conscience was troubled over the loss of life "particularly as I believe it could have been avoided. It has become too difficult to continue bearing responsibility for decisions I do not agree with and whose consequences I fear." Interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi defended the state's reactions and praised the perpetrators saying that "we found that matters had reached a point that no self respecting state could accept...the spread of anarchy and attacks on hospitals and police stations." el-Beltagy asserted that the people were rising up and fighting back to restore democracy saying, "the police state has come to an end." Egyptian state television claimed the protest camps had been cleared "in a highly civilised way," while the interim government released a statement praising the brave security forces and blaming the Islamists for the loss of life. The government also called the raids necessary and said police had confiscated guns and other weapons from the camps. The government renewed its promise to pursue a military-based solution to Egypt's problems in "a way that strives not to exclude any party." The Muslim Brotherhood's media office in London issued a statement that read the world "cannot sit back and watch while innocent men, women and children are being indiscriminately slaughtered. The world must stand up to the military junta's crime before it is too late." Egyptian Ambassador to the U.K. Ashraf El-Kholy defended the crackdown and blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for causing the difficulties saying: "Of course they did nothing but return fire. If you have somebody firing at you then you have to respond."

Grand imam Ahmed el-Tayeb called for "restraint" saying Al-Azhar is committed to seeking a political solution to the situation. The Coptic Church condemned the attacks on its churches and called on the army to restore order. The al-Nour Party called on protestors to exhibit restraint, but said the crackdowns would further complicate the political process. The April 6 Youth Movement blamed the "the army, interior ministry and the Muslim Brotherhood" for the violence. There were also reactions on social media.

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies in its condemnation of lethal violence against those in sit-in and terrorist acts of the Muslim Brotherhood condemns Egyptian security forces for it having "failed to do their duty to take the necessary legal measures to protect public security and citizens, particularly residents and passersby in the aforementioned two areas, which in turn allowed weapons, ammunition, and fortifications to enter the sit-ins and led to killing, torture, and physical assaults on journalists with impunity."

International

Supranational bodies

• European Union - High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton released a statement that read: "Confrontation and violence is not the way forward to resolve key political issues. I deplore the loss of lives, injuries and destruction in Cairo and other places in Egypt. I call on the security forces to exercise utmost restraint and on all Egyptian citizens to avoid further provocations and escalation." Her spokesman, Michael Mann, said that "the reports of deaths and injuries are extremely worrying. We reiterate that violence won't lead to any solution and we urge the Egyptian authorities to proceed with utmost restraint."
• United Nations - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky said: "In the aftermath of today's violence, the secretary-general urges all Egyptians to concentrate their efforts on promoting genuinely inclusive reconciliation. [While the United Nations was still gathering information,] it appears that hundreds of people were killed or wounded in clashes between security forces and demonstrators." The U.K., with France and Australia, called for an emergency closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council.

States

• Afghanistan - An unnamed government agency condemned the "killing of civilian protesters" and expressed hope that "our brothers and sisters in Egypt to [sic] find a peaceful political solution soon."
• Argentina - An unknown government agency in the country that held the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council at the time of the incident condemned it. A statement read: "The brutal repression against popular protests that won the streets of the main cities of Egypt...[the authorities should] totally and immediately cease the spiral of violence loosed in recent days against unarmed citizens."
• Bahrain - Facing its own uprising, an unnamed government agency called the crackdown necessary to "restore security, stability and public order." The state-owned Bahrain News Agency added that Bahraini authorities urged dialogue and reconciliation.
• Brazil - The Itamaraty issued a press release condemning the repressive brutality shown by Egyptian authorities. The ministry further stated that "Brazil associates itself with the statements made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the sense that violence and incitement are not answers to the challenges Egypt faces."
• Bulgaria - Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin condemned the "excessive use of force, leading to casualties on both sides". He said that violence "cannot solve the political and social problems accumulated throughout the years".
• Canada - Foreign Minister John Baird issued a statement calling for calm and said that he was deeply concerned by the situation, while calling on Egypt to implement reforms to ease tensions. He also said that Canada's stance is that Egypt should have a transparent democratic system and encourages and respects civil society and the all segments of Egyptian society. "We urge both parties to avoid violence, and engage in a meaningful political dialogue for the good of all Egyptians. All Egyptians should show restraint and resolve in the coming days."
• Denmark - An unnamed government agency said that it has suspended 30 million kroner worth of aid, which was channeled via agencies like the World Bank and the International Labor Organization.
• France - The foreign ministry released a statement that offered condolences to the families of the violence and read it was "strongly deploring the violence which took place in Cairo during the evacuation operations. [It is] "essential this violence ceases, and that a logic of appeasement prevails. France calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and warns against disproportionate use of force."
• Germany - Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said: "We call on all political forces to return immediately to negotiations and avert an escalation of violence. All further bloodshed must be prevented.
• Holy See - Pope Francis called for prayers for "peace, dialogue and reconciliation for that dear land."
• Iran - The foreign ministry released a statement that called the events a "massacre" and that "while denouncing the violent clashes and condemning the killing of people, expresses its deep concern regarding the horrible consequences. Undoubtedly the current approach to developments in Egypt strengthens the likelihood of civil war in this great Islamic country."
• Ireland - Tanaiste Eamonn Gilmore wrote on Twitter: ""I deplore the loss of life in #Egypt, appeal for the authorities to show restraint and for all involved to refrain from violence."
• Italy - Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said: "I am deeply pained at what is going on in Egypt, and at the loss of human life there. I was hoping that the squares where the sit-ins took place would empty out once the parties had reached an agreement, and not through the intervention of the police, which doesn't make it any easier to find a solution to the political crisis. I appeal to all the Egyptian forces to do everything in their power to halt the violence that has erupted there, and to avoid a blood bath. All forces of order must exert the maximum self-control, and everyone must likewise avoid any form of incitement to violence."
• Jordan - The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Islamic Action Front, called for renewed protests in support of Morsi and warned Egypt's military that it had fallen into a "conspiracy" hatched by the U.S. and Israel to weaken Muslims and that the military was a "tool for corrupt and tyrant military regimes." It also called on its local supporters to protest outside the Egyptian embassy in Amman.
• Libya - A member of the General National Congress' Foreign Affairs Committee, Amna Amtair, said that the committee would meet the next day to take important measures regarding the Egyptian situation, but were postponed from meeting on the day itself due to damage done by a renegade group of young Amazigh who broke in to the GNC following a demonstration. Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Justice and Development Party's, congresswomen in Benghazi, Houda Abdulatif Al-Banani, said that what was happening in Egypt was a coup against democratic legitimacy and was destabilising the effects of the Arab Spring.
• Norway - Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide condemned a disproportionate use of violence against protesters. He called for reconciliation which he said had to include the Muslim Brotherhood. It was also announced that export licenses for military equipment had "recently" been frozen.
• Pakistan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that urged restraint from all sides and called for the Egyptian government to release political prisoners. "The government of Pakistan expresses its dismay and deep concern over the use of force by the Egyptian security forces against unarmed civilians."
• Palestine - A Hamas spokesman expressed disapproval for the "terrible massacre" and called on the military to use "peaceful political solutions" in solving the crisis. He said that Hamas "condemns the massacres...and calls for an end to bloodshed and a halt to the killing of peaceful protesters."
• Qatar - The foreign ministry issued a statement that read it "strongly condemns" the violence, called on Egyptian authorities to refrain from security crackdowns on demonstrators and said that the best conflict resolution mechanism was peaceful dialogue. State news agency, QNA, quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official as calling on the Egyptian authorities to "refrain from the security option in dealing with peaceful protests, and to preserve the lives of Egyptians at protest sites."
• Romania - The foreign ministry released a statement that read it "decried the human loss of life" and called for all sides to exercise restraint and relaunch the transition to democracy. On 15 August, the Ministry issued a travel warning to Romanian citizens en route to or in Egypt.
• Russia - The foreign ministry issued a statement that read forbearance by all sides in Egypt was of "the highest national interest" and that it was suspending the work of its Cairo consular section as a precaution for two days. Of the about 60,000 Russians in the country at the moment, according to the Russian Tourism Board, the foreign ministry had urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Egypt and those in the country should avoid big cities and venues of rallies.
• Spain - A statement by an unnamed branch of government read that the government had "great concern" over the events and that it sent its condolences to the families of those killed. "At this critical moment, it is particularly important that the security forces and the protesters themselves exercise due restraint to avoid the irreversible consequences of violence. The Egyptian people have shown to the whole world their determination to live in peace and democracy. To achieve this aspiration the participation of all political and social forces is needed, without delay, in a national dialogue to make possible the return of institutional normality to Egypt."
• Sweden - Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wrote on Twitter that he was concerned about the events: "Obviously many dead. Reports of live ammunition. Risk of violence spreading. Churches attacked. I condemn the killings and the violence in Egypt now. Main responsibility with regime forces. Extremely hard to restore political process."
• Tunisia - President Rachid Ghannouchi called the crackdown an "abject crime" and said that he was in solidarity with the Morsi suporters' bid to "recover their freedom and oppose the coup d'etat." Following calls from Ennahda Party members of an alleged coup in Tunisia and a repeat of "the Egyptian scenario", party Vice President Walid Bennani later said: "There's no coup d'etat in Tunisia. There’s an opposition party that wants to dissolve the government. The opposition also still wants to repeat the Egyptian scenario. That can't happen. There is no option [for an alternative to rise to] power. There's no resemblance between the two cases."
• Turkey - President Abdullah Gul said: "An armed intervention against civilian people who stage protests is unacceptable, regardless of its justification." He also compared the incident to the first salvos of the Syrian civil war. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office issued a statement that read: "It is clear that the international community, by supporting the military coup and remaining silent over previous massacres instead of protecting democracy and constitutional legitimacy in Egypt, has encouraged the current administration to carry out today's intervention. The international community, especially the U.N. Security Council and Arab League, must act immediately to stop this massacre." It also announced that Erdogan had spoken to UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon and the permanent representatives of the UN Security Council in regards to the Egyptian issue. Egypt then withdrew its ambassador to Turkey for "consultations."
• United Arab Emirates - An unnamed government agency issued a statement that read: "What is regretful is that political extremist groups have insisted on the rhetoric of violence, incitement, disruption of public interests and undermining of the Egyptian economy, which has led to the regretful events today."
• United Kingdom - Foreign Secretary William Hague issued a statement that read: "I am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and unrest in Egypt. I condemn the use of force in clearing protests and call on the security forces to act with restraint." It was also announced that the country had advised its citizens in the country not to partake in demonstrations and avoid large gatherings.
• United States - President Barack Obama "strongly condemned" the violent crackdown on protesters. He also said: "We sustain our commitment to Egypt and its people... but our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual," while he also announced the cancellation of the Bright Star military exercises between the U.S. and other Arab states. Despite his condemnation, aid to Egypt remained in place. A spokesperson said the US$1.5billion of aid the United States gives to Egypt annually was under review. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: "The world is watching what is happening in Cairo. We urge the government of Egypt - and all parties in Egypt - to refrain from violence and resolve their differences peacefully. We have repeatedly called on the Egyptian military and security forces to show restraint and for the government to respect the universal rights of its citizens, just as we have urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully." He added that the United States strongly opposed the state of emergency. Secretary of State John Kerry called the events "deplorable" and a "serious blow" to reconciliation efforts. On August 15th, President Obama canceled joint military training exercises with the Egyptian military.

Solidarity protests

Hundreds of people protested against the clearing of the protests in Kuwait, chanted slogans against Egyptian General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi; while an unnamed cleric called on Kuwaitis to demonstrate after Friday prayers outside the U.S. embassy. Other solidarity protests were held in neighbouring Tel Aviv and Gaza, as well as Turkey, Tunisia and Jordan. In Ankara, about 300 protesters gathered outside the Egyptian embassy, then went to the U.S. embassy and chanted anti-U.S. slogans and held up pictures of Morsi.

Media

The New York Times called the crackdown the "clearest sign yet that the old Egyptian police state was re-emerging" and added that its reporters saw no evidence of alleged weapon stockpiles in the protest camps. Al Jazeera featured an article entitled "The Egyptian coup and the lessons of Turkey" with the sub-heading that military was backtracking on the democracy that Egyptians had fought for.