Questioning Society: The Egyptian Revolution

By: Donte Servidone

Background• Emergency Law

– Followed the assassination of Anwar El Sadat– Freedom of the press regulated

• El Sadat superseded by Hosni Mubarak– For 24 years, only candidate allowed – Multi-party election in 2005, but thought to be rigged

• Christian Church in Alexandria attacked by suicide bomber Jan. 1, 2011 – Concern in government’s protection ability– Christians protest the bombing and are attacked by police

• Muslim Brotherhood– Founded by Hassan el-Banna, Ismailiyya 1928– Outlawed by Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1954– Distrusted by many Egyptians

Goals• Immediate resignation of president Mubarak– Feb. 1, 2011; Mubarak announces that he will not run in

next election; not satisfying enough to protestors

• Work for the well-educated– Young, well-educated people have a hard time finding

work

•Why?: Conditions under President Mubarak are unfair; education should aid in finding work, not hamper it

Actions• Muslim Brotherhood invited to talks by Vice President Omar

Suleiman• February 11, thousands of protesters marched close to the

president's home • Nationwide Protest on National Police Day, January 25, 2011

– 50,000 protestors in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Jan. 29Built field hospitals, water stations, and toiletsPolice use water cannons and tear gas“Tahrir Warriors” fight the police

Opposition

• Police Brutality– Khaled Said arrested and beaten to death by police outside

an Internet Cafe on June 6, 2010

• Muslim Brotherhood repressed by Sayyid Qutb and other military thinkers

Results

• Mubarak resigns on Feb. 11, 2011• Egyptian security murdered 300 or more protesters• Police arrested thousands of people• People clean up Tahrir Square• How to shift energy of the revolution into forming a new

government• Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed ElBaradei, Naguib Sawiris

Works Cited

Egypt Flag. Maps of the World. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

"Egyptian Revolution." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Murphy, Dan. "How Egyptians Toppled Mubarak - and Who Will Lead Them Now." Christian Science Monitor 12 Feb. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Shadid, Anthony. "Two Revolts, Two Paths." New York Times 13 Feb. 2011: A1(L). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.