Egyptians are pissed. They're mad at Mubarak, at 30 years of dictatorship, at widespread unemployment, corruption, and repression. On Tuesday, they took to the streets, mobilized by a Facebook page calling for an end to the state of emergency and detainment without trial, a raise in minimum wages, and a limit to presidential terms. The call was unaffiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which took pains to dissociate itself from the protests on National Police Day. Mubarak's consistent rejection of Islamists as unfit for political participation and as extremists feeds into the deeply misguided Western notion of the "Islamist Threat." Western newspapers are full of reports about disenfranchised and marginalized people, particularly men, as the support base for Islamist movements, which is patently untrue. It is important to note that Islamist movement in Egypt is a social movement, supported by all classes, not a religious one, and seeks political representation and has political demands. Denouncing them as extremists is one way for Mubarak to retain Western support and quash political participation. However, in these circumstances, the rumours that Islamists are behind these protests are simply NOT true. Protests have been secular, lack a unified and strong political affiliation (supporters from 5th of April, Kefaya, and various other movements have joined together), and are attended by people who have simply had enough. The crowd is full of youth, a demographic that makes sense given that protests were organized mostly via new media like twitter and facebook.
Most Egyptians I've spoken to are positive and enthusiastic about the events in Tunisia, and though I reject the myth of the "Arab mind" that tries to lump all Middle Eastern actors under the same rubric, the success of Tunisians is clearly an encouraging example for Egyptians. That being said, attributing this uprising to a mere domino effect strips Egyptians of their agency and their clear intent to send a message to the current regime. Unsurprisingly, the US response has been muted at best, calling first for the right of the Egyptians to demonstrate peacefully, then urging Mubarak to seize the opportunity to reform. The Egyptians want Mubarak OUT! An act like ripping apart a Mubarak poster may seem pedestrian to many Westerners, but in a country where speaking up against the powers that be can have severe (and sometimes fatal) consequences and gatherings of more than five are illegal, this action speaks volumes. The US does not have a real commitment to democracy, only to "democratic" governments which serve US strategic interests. I have long been upset with US aid and support for Pakistan, and though Egypt is not such an extreme case, nevertheless, US money aids the repression of ordinary people. Since the Atlantic Charter, which linked concepts of human rights to the discourse of security, the US government has appropriated the rhetoric of human rights. This is the problematic relationship which results in the language of human rights being used to justify security interests and interventions. In this case, the US sits on the fence, calling for restraint on both sides and respect for the rights of the people, while also mentioning the "stability" of the Egyptian government and calling for Mubarak to institute change rather than to step down, thus tacitly affirming his legitimacy in their eyes. But no surprise there.
Yesterday, on the second day of demonstrations, I witnessed police charge a crowd with sticks, fire tear gas into the crowd repeatedly, gather rocks and throw rocks and glass at protesters, and commandeer an armored car with a water cannon to disperse crowds. Reports abound of beatings, abductions and arrests of protesters and activists. I saw secret police and plain clothes policemen join in the protest, pretending to be protesters, but acting as agitators and fomenting violence. One of them entered our compound, screaming at an injured man who was teargassed in the face and unable to breathe or move "get out! get out of here! we don't ever want to see your face again!" It was very clear that yesterday the orders to the police had changed. The situation also escalated in Suez, where the NDP ruling party office was set on fire and a few people lost their lives after the police opened live fire on a crowd of protesters. Protests are likely to continue today, and another call has been issued for protests to continue nationwide tomorrow after afternoon prayers. The Egyptian weekend starts on Friday, so those who didn't come out because of work commitments on Wednesday and Thursday but came out on Tuesday during the national holiday are likely to join the protests. I also expect that violence will escalate as the Egyptian government tries desperately to quash the uprising, save face, and stay on the tourist destination and foreign investment lists. The elite and governing classes are also heavily concerned with the value of the Egyptian currency, which is falling rapidly. Neighbourhoods with expats and upper class areas have been cordoned off by groups of riot police in an effort to contain the protests, but I don't think this will be effective tomorrow.
Aside from the obvious differences in size, income and foreign influence, one of the main differences between what happened in Tunisia and what is happening in Egypt is Mubarak's media chokehold. Egypt state TV is reporting on protests in Lebanon and independent news media is being shut down. State controlled media shows absolutely nothing about protests. Two opposition newspaper websites were taken down. Facebook and Twitter are disabled. Though I did see a photographer embedded with a riot police unit, filming and photographers have been shut down in other areas, and even foreign journalists who identify themselves as press aren't necessarily left alone; Guardian journalist Jack Shenker was beaten, arrested and driven out towards the desert.
People in Egypt are hopeful. Many of them have put their jobs, health, and even lives on the line in taking part in these protests. Hundreds have already suffered police brutality, been beaten, arrested, and detained unlawfully. I have yet to meet an Egyptian that does not support the protesters. As one man I met put it yesterday "There may be corruption in other places, but here, there is injustice." Another one said "What happened in Tunisia was great. We are living in a dictatorship for 30 years. Enough of dictatorship. The protesters want democracy. I support them 100%". Meanwhile, Mubarak is in Sharm El-Sheikh, refusing the advice to step down. He is 82 and has been in power for 30 years. Most Egyptians live on less than $2 a day, and unemployment is high.
So, I urge you to support the right of Egyptians to associate freely, to protest, and to fight for their political and human rights. There are planned demonstrations outside Egyptian embassies worldwide, so please participate and show your solidarity with the Egyptian people. From what I hear, media coverage outside Egypt (and certainly within) has been limited. Please spread the word - the more international attention is focused on Egypt, the better the chance that the regime won't crack down so violently.
