Mosaic Blog

Back to Tahrir Square

"The revolution in Egypt is not over. It has hardly begun," writes Omeya El Naggar in an article titled "Will Egypt's Arab Spring Turn Into an Arab Nightmare." Egypt's Tahrir Square looked like a nightmare today, ten months after protests brought down Hosni Mubarak's regime, as clashes between protestors and police continued for a third consecutive day. Al Jazeera reports that 33 people have been killed and over 1,500 injured since Saturday. 

 

Protesters run from tear gas fired by riot police in a side street near Tahrir Square in Cairo

Thousands of protestors gathered in Tahrir Square, the symbolic epicenter of the Arab Spring, to demand the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) swiftly transfer power to a civilian authority and to protect their revolution from what they say is an attempt to hijack it. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to start on November 28, but presidential elections won’t be held until a new constitution is written, which could take up to a year. In the meantime, executive powers would remain with the army. 

 

According to the Cairo daily Al Masry al Youm, protestors were using firebombs and shotgun pellets against the police. At a brief news conference, a representative of the military, General Said Abbas, said that the security forces had not initiated any violence and had only defended themselves. This video however, shows police officers beating lifeless bodies and dragging others by their hair across the square. One activist tweeted, "There are protestors writing phone numbers on their arms so that in case they're killed their family members can be contacted. #Tahrir." Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh said the clashes were "very intense, with the people on the street telling us…that the military has shown its true colors."

 

In the face of such bloody protests, interim Prime Minsiter Essam Sharaf and his cabinet submitted their collective resignation. However, the military council reportedly announced they will not accept the resignation until Egyptian political forces decide on a replacement prime minister.  

 

In an article titled "Cairo Jumps the Rails," Marc Lynch says, "Now is a time for the Egyptian political elite to unify -- Islamist and non-Islamist, elite and popular -- around clear demands for a speedy political transition to civilian rule. Protestors, bloody and mourning their dead, will not be satisfied with minor political concessions." Others say it is easier said than done. In an increasingly heated and complex political climate, Al Ahram’s Elias Harfoush argues that "the ongoing competition…over the inheritance of Mubarak's regime has its justifications…Mubarak's absence has left a great vacuum  in the prime seat of power in the largest [and most populated] Arab country." In other words, the stakes are high. 

 

As over 20,000 protestors filled Tahrir Square on Monday night, activists are calling for a "million man march" on Tuesday to call for a new civilian government and national unity.  

 
 

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The Soundtrack of The Revolution

Tunisian rapper Hamada Ben Amor, known as El Général, released "Rayes Lebled'' or "Head of State" around the same time as Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation. El Général's song spoke out against the now former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and has been labeled the "rap song that sparked a revolution."

 

 

Following the success of the Tunisian uprising, Palestinian artists joined forces to honor the Tunisian people with a song entitled "Green Revolution." Rapper Mahmoud Jrere from pop-rap group DAM thanked the Tunisians for giving them hope "instead of depression and boredom from politicians," as Mahmoud Darwish wondered "how can we be cured from our love for Tunisia?" and ended the song by admitting "we love you Tunisia more than we thought we knew."

 

 

Central Cairo's Tahrir or Liberation Square was the Egyptian uprising's battleground that remained relatively peaceful. For 18 days, videos exhibiting the Egyptian people's humor and love of music went viral on YouTube. The song in the video below was sung by protestors camped out at the square, addressing former President Hosni Mubarak.

 

 

After the people toppled Hosni Mubarak, a group of "several notable musicians from North America teamed up to release a song of solidarity and empowerment." Their song is entitled #Jan25, in reference to the Egyptian protest hashtag that was trending on Twitter at the time. The artists said, "this track serves as a testament to the revolution's effect on the hearts and minds of today's youth, and the spirit of resistance it has come to symbolize for oppressed people worldwide."

 

 

Libya's struggle for freedom and democracy began on February 17. In an effort to mobilize the youth, Tripoli rapper Ibn Thabit released a song titled "Call to the Libyan Youth" inviting them to "live standing up on [their] feet, not on [their] knees." (Full translation here)

 

 

In a humorous reprise of Tracy Chapman's classic “Talkin 'Bout A Revolution,” Israeli band Shmemel talked about “An Arab Revolution.” The 10-member group displayed solidarity with the Arab uprising through a video that is steeped in orientalist imagery. Shmemel allied itself with those fighting for "freedom" and "liberation," and identified with the struggle against "people who are trying to bring us down from Washington to Tel Aviv to Tehran," offering listeners an uncommonly heard Israeli voice.

 

 
 

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Demonstrations Around The World on 'Day of Departure'

Millions of Egyptians came out to Tahrir Square today for the "Day of Departure," according to Al Jazeera's Arabic channel. Demonstrators said all Egyptians were participating and that they would not leave until their demands were met.

BBC Arabic reported that both pro and anti-Mubarak protesters turned out in Alexandria. They also said that the Egyptian Attorney General banned several officials from leaving the country as a precautionary measure against them.

One of the banned ministers, former Minister of Commerce and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, called into Nile TV, Egyptian state television. Rachid said he was in Dubai with the permission of authorities and did not know why he had been banned from traveling.

Al Alam, the Arabic language channel from Iran, reported that an European Union summit issued a statement today condemning the attacks on Egyptian demonstrators and calling for an immediate peaceful transition of power. They also said three demonstrations supporting the pro-democracy protesters took place in Brussels today.

Iran's English language channel, Press TV, showed demonstrations around the world in support of the anti-Mubarak protesters, including in Malaysia where protesters clashed with police.

Lebanon's New TV featured the newly appointed Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman. The soft-spoken Suleiman rose through the armed forces and military intelligence to become head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service.

As protests continue in Egypt, Dubai TV reports on how the unrest is affecting the Gaza Strip. Egypt is the main source of supplies for the people of Gaza. Transportation tunnels at the Rafah border crossing have been cut off since the protests erupted, leading to fears of a food shortage.

 
 

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Violence Erupts in Egypt's Tahrir Square

The protests in Egypt turned violent today as President Mubarak’s security forces clashed with demonstrators in Tahrir Square, leaving hundreds injured, according to the BBC Arabic channel. Al Jazeera referred to the attackers as armed thugs, who reportedly used Molotov cocktails against anti-government protesters - some entered the square on camels and horses.

Also on the Al Jazeera Arabic channel, opposition leader Mohamed El Baradei said plainclothes police officers attacked protesters as well, claiming they managed to confiscate police ID cards after an attack. El Baradei also called on the army to intervene on behalf of the protesters. So far the army has remained on the sidelines of the clashes.

Al Alam, the Arabic language satellite channel from Iran, reported that the Arab Committee for Human Rights warned that they are collecting evidence against those who are perpetrating attacks against protesters and will hold the Egyptian regime responsible in court for these actions.

Meanwhile, Dubai TV showed foreign citizens currently in Egypt continuing to flee, with Cairo airport crowded as they attempt to find flights out of the country. And Israel Broadcasting Authority covered a small demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv.

 
 

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