The Tahrir Spirit --- Khallas! -- Part 1

With the run-offs set to be between Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafiq and the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi, is there anything left of the Tahrir Square spirit?

As much as I love visiting Egypt as often as I possibly can, (and I do miss Cairo in particular more than I care to admit) my heart would grow heavy at the end of every visit.


Every time I go back and catch up with  friends and all the people I met in Tahrir square back in July I'm convinced the Tahrir days are gone.

Nothing like Jan25

Graffiti by Omar Fathy. Drawn on AUC wall on Mohamed Mahmoud street. Downtown, Cairo. Photo by Jonathan Rashad

Back in July, or Tahrir 2, as it was called , the revolutionary zeal was still some-what intact. The victory over Hosni Mubarak's thirty year rule was still fresh in people's memory.

Fresh too was their discontent with how the army was running the country and the human rights violations that bagan to surface.

If the first half of 2011 was defined by 'Yasqot Yasqot Husni Mubarak' (Down, Down with Mubarak) the second half of the year was defined by 'Yasqot Yasqot Hokm EL Askar' (Down, Down with Military Rule).

'This is nothing like January!' I remember one protester telling me .. 'Back then the spirit was different.. We felt like one person , we all wanted one thing for 'him' to go'

'Now as you can see , they are all arguing and fighting.'

Same Tahrir - Different voices

Tahrir Square July 29th 2012 (Also known as Salafi Friday)

The arguing varied from those saying the army should go back to the barracks and hand power to a civilian presidential council to others asking for better pay and working conditions.

Strikes were the flavour of the month (well the three or four months )

The following became obvious as the Arab Spring went from a hot summer into a chilled winter:

1- Despite being in the same place, those who went to Tahrir square for the second time spoke in many different scattered voices and demanded different things. Different enough to confuse everyone and diffuse energy. The chants may have been in unison-- The demands were not.

2-The revolutionary voices which defined Tahrir Square in January were drowned out by the political noise of new parties still finding their feet and established ones looking for deals to make and niches to carve in this new and very illusive political scene-- Specifically the Muslim Brotherhood who were quick to form a political pary - The Freedom and Justice.

3-The ruling Supreme Council of The Armed Forces - SCAF- had no idea how to politically handle the country and were operating on crisis management mode-- All the time.

4-The Islamists will rise to power. There's no stopping them - a) Because they had the initial backing of SCAF  b) They've had a massive following for years of tireless rallying and a limitless budget and c) There was no obvious and equally powerful alternative.

5-The hard-line Islamists known as Salafis were rising to the surface at an alarming rate-- Where did they come from? Where were they all these years?

By the end of July the army and a large sector of Egyptians were fed up of Tahrir. The revolution went from being viewed as a catalyst for change to a hurdle in the face of production and economic prosperity.

'3agalet El Entag-- or -- The Wheel  of Production' would be the term used to discredit any revolutionary motion. And to be honest there weren't many and they were never coherent .

On the first day of Holy month of Ramadan (1st August) the army cracked down heavily on Tahrir , taking all the tents down and arresting hundreds of protesters (including yours truly!)

 Patterns of violence

February 5th 2012: Thousands of Ultras Ahlawy took to Mohamed Mahmoud Street outside Egypt's Interior Ministry to protest against what they called police camplaicency in Portsaid violence. Photo by Jonathan Rashad

The pattern of violence would be repeated numerously in the months to come, the most prominent of which are:

• Mohamed Mahmoud Street 
• Qasr El Aini Street outside Parliament 
• Portsaid Stadium after an Al Ahly and Al Masry football game
• Abbasiya outside the Ministry of Defense

May 4th 2012 : Clashes outside the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Abbasiya. Photo by Jonathan Rashad

"Khallas! What do they want" a taxi driver shouted when we passed through the neighborhood of Abbasiya two weeks ago. "The army said they'll go in June after the elections. What do these people want. They just want to burn the country. They were paid to destroy it. "'O'mala !" he told me -- "Agents"

It was a day after violence had erupted between protesters including Salafi supporters of Hazem Abu Ismail and the military police.

If there was a picture for 'state of emergency' Abbasiya would have been it on the day. Military police officers of different ranks dotted the place .. armorued vehicles parked back to back on both sides of the long street running through the neighbourhood.

Tension was high but the message from the military was clear.. 'We're in control. We'll go at the time we've said we will-- Not sooner'

"we ba3been?--Then what??"

Cairo Graffiti saying 'Now What my country?' on 26 July bridge in Zamalek

Later that night I met a group of friends in a Cafe in Zamalek, ( a neighbourhood in Cairo that has become very close to my heart). Most of the people at the table I'd met in Tahrir Square at one point. They were full of life and anger back then--now they almost disagree on everything.

The Abbasiya violence and presidential elections are the centre of discussion.

"Some people are angry at me for saying that Abbasiya was a stupid move" Adbullah said. "I get non-stop insults on twitter , but I stand by it! What the hell are they doing"

"I was there to support the protesters against those thugs!" Ahmed replied heatedly..

"Support who, Abdullah said-- "The Salafis , what have the Salafis ever done for you?" Abdullah said.

"And by the way --you all were chanting 'Down, Down with military rule' fine, so who do you want to rule now?" Abdullah asked.

Ahmed is silent for a moment then says-- "No one can answer that question"

"But  Ahmed, some of the protesters were armed. Residents of Abbasiya said so themselves " I said.

"Yes." Ahmed replied

"You say they were attacked by thugs -- but it can also be Abbasiya residents fed up with people carrying arms on their doorstep-- besides isn't Abbasiya a SCAF supporters stronghold AND the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense?" I said.

I asked him."What were they thinking? -- that they could just storm the Ministry of Defense?"

Ahmed shrugged.

"I've always said there's no use taking to the streets now." Masry commented

Masry was a member of the security committees team whoch was responsible for securing the entrances to Tahrir Square. He,  more than anyone elese at the table knew what it was like to spend days and nights on end in a sit-in.

"Ana Te3ebt-- I'm Tired"

"Khallas -- sit-ins are no use now. They're the wrong tactic. Everytime it's the same thing we take to the streets they screw us over , people die and we go back to our homes." Masry said.

"we ba3been?--Then what??" Masr asked.

No one really had the answer to that. The obvious one is to let the ballot boxes decide, I suggest.

"Why beacuse you trust those sons of bitches when they say elections will be fair?" someone says from the end of the table. He'd joined us later and I didn't really know who he was.

That's the beauty of those 'Tweet-ups' anyone can join. You're guaranteed to meet someone new everytime!

Another debate errupts on which of the presidential candidates is more incomeptent than the other.

(This very debate will become a distant memory very soon-- Those very people will find themeselves between Ahmed Shafiq's rock amd Mohamed Morsi's hard place")

Some people at the next table hear us talk. I overhear one of them saying -- ' I can't listen to this shit anymore-- let's move to another table' and they do.

Masry and his fiancee drive me to my hotel. On our way out everyone is in a thoughtful sombre mood.

Tahrir Sqaure was five minutes away from the cafe we were in but its spirit was a million miles gone.

As I get ready to go Masry asks me.. "Do you know how many friends I've lost in the last fifteen months. How many are in hospital? How many lost their eyes."

" Look at me Shaimaa! I've aged! I feel old! I shave my head so people won't see the grey hair!"

"I was in Tahrir day in and day out-- But now I want a life. I want to get married and have kids. I want to live. Ana te3ebt --I'm tired. Khallas!"

خالد الجهني: المتظاهر الوحيد

تتم اليوم الأربعاء محاكمة المواطن السعودي، خالد محمد الجهني، بالرياض، على خلفية اتهامه بالتحدث لوسائل إعلام أجنبية والإساءة للمملكة السعودية، وفق ما ذكرته مصادر مقربة من قضية خالد.

وكان قد تم القبض على خالد يوم الحادي عشر من مارس/آذار عام 2011 حين لبى دعوة على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي على الانترنت للخروج والتظاهر فيما سمي حينها "يوم الغضب".

وفي هذا اليوم لم يكن خالد سوى المتظاهر الوحيد. ووسط الوجود الامني المكثف جاء خالد وتحدث الى فريق بي بي سي عند ميدان المظالم بالرياض.

وقد تم القبض على خالد بعد فترة وجيزة من التحدث الى فريق بي بي سي. ووفق مصادر مقربة من قضيته فإن خالد مسجون حاليا في سجن الحائر. وأضافت هذه المصادر أنه منذ القبض عليه، تعرض خالد للتعذيب والإهانة اللفظية والحرمان من النوم لساعات طويلة والماء في بعض الأحيان. وتقول هذه المصادر إن حالة خالد الصحية متردية للغاية ولا يحصل على العناية الطبية اللازمة.

Khaled Jehani: The Only Protester

Khaled Mohamed Al Jehani stands trial in the Saudi capital Riyadh today. He's charged with speaking to foreign media about subjects which harm the kingdom and for demonstrating.

Khaled was arrested on March the 11th 2011 when he answered calls on social media pages to take to the streets of Riyadh and demonstrate in what was called the 'Day of Rage'.

At 'Grievance Square' or 'Diwan Al Mathalem' a demonstration was expected. But Khaled ended up being the only protester and despite the notorious security presence he came up and spoke to journalists.





Khaled was arrested shortly after this was filmed. He is now in the Haa'er prison where he has been for 11 months.He has been tortured and humiliated during this period. He was also sometimes deprived of sleep or water. This is according to sources close to him as well as political and human rights activists following his case inside Saudi Arabia.

Mubarak Trial: All Rise!

This was the day millions of Egyptians were waiting for but were not sure would ever happen. The Mubarak trial has had it's share of controversy ever since it was announced. Many didn't believe the Military council were serious about trying their former commander in chief. Many others thought that if they did it would only be a show, Mubarak would not be seen in the caged dock . His sons may appear and the trial would be adjourned in a few minutes.

"Sorry father..."
Everything about that day proved the expectations wrong. We set out from the early hours of the morning to ensure a good position to set up out side the Police Academy in New Cairo. Ironically it was formerly known as the Mubarak Police Academy. When we arrived Pro-Mubarak protesters were on the scene in full force, all wearing T-shirts that said "I am Egyptian I refuse to humiliate the leader of the nation in reference to former president Hosni Mubarak.





Some carried placards saying "Mubarak , I'm sorry Father for what my brothers did to you" another placard said "The President protected us no to humiliating him" The chants continued , amid very heavy riot police presence and an increasingly scorching Ramadan morning.

Clashes
Tension mounted as the anti Mubarak crowds started to arrive. Mothers who say that their sons died during the January 25 Revolution that saw the toppling of Mubarak. Men and women of all ages all gathering and waiting for one image .Mubarak in the Dock. Will it happen ? I asked someone? "No this is just a show." a man told me " They want to pacify us" someone else said.

Then, the clashes started. Pro and anti Mubarak crowds. Stones, shoes and sticks were flying in every direction. we could do nothing but take refuge in the transmission tents. Riot police were able to control it eventually, but clashes would continue to break out every half an hour or so through out the morning.






The big screen outside the court started showing courtroom pictures where journalists and lawyers were being seated. Every time the picture of the courtroom appeared the crowds shouted "3ayzeen neshofo --3ayzeen neshofo" We want to see him we want to see him." Even as they were chanting this, no one really believed they would see him. Even as a helicopter hovered over us and went into the police academy no one was 100 percent sure he would show up.

The big screen is showing pictures of the caged dock with it's back-door open. Former interior minster Habib el adly and his six aids enter the dock. Big cheers from the crowds. Then the presidents sons Allaa and Gamal Mubarak the crowds grow louder and more hysterical with shoes and stones now being thrown at the screen.



Then came the scene that no one had pictured. Hosni Mubarak the former Egyptian President being pulled on a stretcher into the caged dock. His hair pitch black, wearing a white sports outfit , looking very alert. There was a collective gasp and a moment's silence , then there were ululations of mothers who were in tears. "My son--" One mother told me. " My son's blood was not in vain" . For the first time in the history of the region an Arab leader was being tried by his own people.

The trial continued throughout the day. It started with Habib Al Adly and his aids on the accusations of killing protesters in January. Then there was the corruption case against Mubarak and his sons.

"First Defendant, Mohamed Hosni El Sayed Mubarak" The judge announced "Yes, I am present" Hosni Mubarak answered. Cheers and jeers filled the air as the former president said his first words in court and was described unimaginably as 'defendant' . His sons were also called. Each was presented with the corruption charges against them and each refuted them entirely.

The trial continued and so did the buzz outside the police Academy. "This is the beginning of a long road to justice. In the end he should hang" one young woman told me.

"It's happening in Egypt!"
"Seeing him like this, it's gorgeous" one man said. "We are showing the world what we can do. This is the first time this happens" another man tells me. "And it's happening in Egypt. I am proud. "

Habib El Adly's trial was adjourned to the next day and later to the 14th of August while Mubarak's trial was adjourned to the 15th of August.

The big space outside the police academy starts to empty out. Channels dismantle their dishes and people make their way home. You could see the satisfaction and vindication on some faces. The smiles say everything.

Whatever the court decides at the end of this trial one thing will remain unchanged. On that very hot Ramdan summer day, to millions of Egyptians, justice was being served.


The audio version of this post is being broadcast on World Report for RTE News.

Sayonara 2010

There's absolutely no good reason why I haven't blogged for the past six months..definitely not for lack of events or things to say! I'm a lazy fuck and I don't have the discipline that's the long and short of it .. I'm trying to squeeze one in now so that my last post of 2010 to be July's...

Anyhow there's another voice in my head now saying I'm actually using the blog as yet another way to beat myself up! Tremendously true!

This could be a whole New Year Resolution post where I promise to lose weight, be healthier, more organized and call the people I love more often! Not a fuckin' chance!

I do however want to look back at 2010 as it's been really good to me... Will do that when I feel like it.

Sayonara 2010 you've been a darl!

OOOh just before it ends.... (4 mins to go!) Best thing about 2010...This beautiful man curled up on the sofa beside me ... There's no one else I'd want to be with in New Year's Gourriiiii ...