Just few thoughts

Let's not spend a lof of time arguing is it a coup or a revolution but think beyond these words. 
These are some of my thoughts and reflections regarding what's going on.

Politics is and will always be a dirty game which is only about power. But we are in a state that we need to look beyond this or else we all will pay a lot.

President role, whomever is, is a big responsibility because he is leading the country. He should listen to everybody and keep his promises.
Morsi did several fatal mistakes in my opinion: the constitutional decree of November, the way of issuing the constitution, his speeches which didn't target all the nation, what happened at Itihadeya, keeping a government that is a big failure, allowing hatred & racial speeches in his presence, way of handling crisis like the Ethiopian dam and finally, the core project of his electoral campaign turned out to be just on papers.
People signed "Tamarod" and went in the streets because he failed in that.

Posts about protests against consititutional decree: Back to streets and Tahrir Square is back

SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces) did a lot of mistakes while ruling after Moubarak has stepped down. Many injustice happened starting from military trials for civilians, referendum on constitution or president first, and not putting a clear roadmap.
Post about protests against SCAF on the 1st memory of 25th Jan Revolution: 25th Jan reloaded


Army now, which has not the same function sa the SCAF, put a roadmap although without a clear timeline. At least, the power now is with an interim civilian president and the roadmap they announced was after consulting the different parties. 

Opposition failed the people because they were not united. They tried many times to do something but they failed. Tamarod campain was able to reach those we call the couch party (7ezb el canaba) because they were not affiliated to a certain party, they offered the people a way to express their discontent for the failure of the whole system and their feeling of being discarded.

The MB were wrong acting for their own benefits and not for Egypt. Some of them posting hatred & violent messages along the past year, defending everything with force & the arm.
They did good job to win in different elections but the way they were acting did them more harm than good. 
They made deals with old regime (with Omar Soliman) and with SCAF (celebrating 25th Jan in Tahrir Square while people in the street chanting against SCAF).

People who supported Morsi and feel that they were betrayed because this is against their will and their votes. I agree, you have all the rights because we should use the system and stick with it. I wanted Morsi to ask for a referendum or call for earlier elections but he didn't.

People who went in the streets on 30th of June, asking Morsi to leave were even more than those who voted for him. Whatever their motives or reasons are, they feel that we can't continue with Morsi.

Why some of the accused people in crimes were released by the president? Why in Sinai there are now attacks army and police with weapon? This raises a lot of questions.
Why in the celebration of 6th October 1973 victory the killer of El-Sadat was among the audience?

The general prosecutor was deposed wrongly by Morsi but i believe he should be go away.
The general prosecutor that was assigned by Morsi did a lot of things mostly against activists which raises a lot of questions.
There should be a new general prosecutor chosen in the legal ways.

Closing some channels without legal ways is wrong even though some of these channels were broadcasting hatred messages. 

Arresting any person, inlcuding MBs should be only based on legal ways. So, whoever is in power should come clean to the people and state why people are arrested.

The main issue is that the will of the people is the source of power. Democracy is not just winning elections but listening to everybody which Morsi failed to do, on purpose or not and acting as president for all Egyptians.
Democracy is a big word that we are still trying to assimilate but we need to listen to each other, understand the motives and discuss together to reach the best solution for all.

Everybody did mistakes (Opposition, Morsi, MB, SCAF, Army, Police...). It's normal because this is life. But what's important is to learn from these mistakes and work together for the good of Egypt.

The current roadmap proposed by army. If they really stick with it then I believe this is the way out for Egypt from the situation we are stuck in for more than 2 years now.
- Interim president for this transition period
- New government. I believe the majority agrees that the government of Hisham Kandil was incompetent and there were many people calling for its change but it was not
- Suspension of constitution till adjusting the articles with big concerns (already Morsi promised to change these articles but didn't take any actions but words)
- Prepare a law for parilamentary elections
- Parliamentary elections
- Early presidential elections

Finally I believe that justice shall prevail no matter what.
i believe in only peaceful ways. 
Let's not forget the revolution first demands in 2011: Bread, Freedom & Human Dignity.
I have faith in Egypt & Egyptians.
God Bless Egypt!

Egypt is back!!!

I don't know from where to start. I wanted to write earlier about what's happening but things went to quickly that it is over now!
Couple of months ago, a campaign called "tamarod" (rebellion) initiated but young people who believed their voice should be heard started. The call was simple, sign a piece of paper if you no longer wants the president to rule Egypt. This small campaign managed to gather 22 millions signature, which is more than those who elected the president.
There were calls to go on marches on the 30th of June, which marked one year for the rule of Morsi. People started to demonstrate in several places in Cairo and Egypt from the weekend before the 30th. The army already secured the sensitive areas around Cairo and other cities to prevent any problems that might occur.
On the 30th, millions went in the streets in all over Egypt. The number of people demonstrating was much more that those who went in the streets during the revolution in January 2011.

This video taken by army helicopters show the demonstrations in only 2 locations in Cairo, Tahrir Square and the area of the presidential palace (Itihadeya).

The demonstrations were so peaceful, people carrying flags, banners and red cards to expel the president (like in football).

The following day, 1st of July, the army made a statement that the president has 48 hours to solve the issues with the opposition and propose solutions. This step was cheered by protestors. They continued to go in big numbers in the different places.

On my way to Itihadeya, 1 hour after the statement, cars are honking, people with flags, everyone is cheering and so happy. You can see it on their faces, so proud and confident that the end is near.

People are singing the Egyptian national anthem at Itihadeya

There was no word from the presidency to that ultimatum till the following day, 2nd of July. And Morsi came up with a speech, talking about legitimacy and that he is the democratic elected president of Egypt. He forgot that it is the people who give this legitimacy. He forgot that democracy is not just an election but it is a behavior, to include everybody in the decision making and shaping of the country, to listen to the opposition, which he failed to do. He only listened to his clan, to his group of Muslim Brotherhood. He ignored the people and with time, more people were opposing him. He succeeded only to unit everybody else against him and his clan. The speech even was threatening anyone opposing him.
Nevertheless, the protest continued. People didn't give up despite the heat. Many people who never went in any demonstrations actually went during the past few days.

Everybody was anticipating the end of the deadline given by the army on the 3rd of July. Around the afternoon, just after i went to Tahrir square with my family, we heard on the TV that Morsi is under arrest. You can't imagine the joy and jubilation of the crowd at this specific moment, as if we won the world cup. But it was something more and deeper. Everybody passing by telling us "Mabrouk" (congratulations). We were still waiting for the statement of the army but we already knew that it's the people's will that prevailed.

Finally few hours later came the statement of the army after meeting with different political leaders & youth from rebellion campain: suspension of constitutionn, new presidential elections, new government, head of supreme court to assume the role of president temporarly, preparation of new law for parlimantery elections.
This is a day to remember and history is being rewritten.

YESSSS!!! WE DID IT!!!!

This proves that the will of people is above all. Egyptians proved that we can change everything peacefully. I actually had faith in the people after the revolution of 25 January 2011. Before that, i thought that people don't care about anything but after the revolution i changed my mind and i knew that the fear of silence is no longer there and no matter who will come to rule us, if he doesn't respect the will of the people, they will not stand in silence. Even if the ruler made everything to stay in power, no one can defy the people any longer. People elected Morsi to satisfy their needs which he failed to do.
This is a clear message to anyone, if you don't respect the will of the people, you should not lead them.
For the foreign media who still think that this is a military coup, i tell them it's a people's revolution.
Finally, i know we still have a long road ahead, we have lot of problems but I believe that no matter what, we will make it at the end. I have faith in Egyptians and i believe now, even those who lost hope along the way, are the first to regain it.

GOD BLESS EGYPT

25 Jan Reloaded

I decided few days ago that I will participate in the marches, mainly cos I wanted to be part of it and that the marches are the best way to reach people. It is not limited to people who go to Tahrir, it's for everbody even people who are at home or in their shops.

The announced itinerary for the march i joined was to walk from Manial to Sayeda Zeinab where other marches would join then go to Tahrir. We changed the itinerary and instead, after circulating in Manial, went to Cairo University then Dokki to Kasr El-Nil bridge, as shown in the below map.

I was a little bit disappointed as I arrived and saw not more than 50-60 waiting to start the march holding banners and flags. I was expecting to see more gathered. We started marching in Manial street itself, doing it twice and soon that feeling of disappointment left me. We were chanting loud, encouraging people to join us, chanting against SCAF. Cars and buses were cheering us, people in shops or looking from their windows as well. The more we marched, the more we were. I was touched when we saw an old lady in a car following us. When we spoke with her, she told us she couldn't march with us so decided to do it with her car. She was upset cos we were still few and she wanted everybody to go in the streets. She told us that her children are abroad cos they couldn't have a decent life in Egypt and she wishes to see the day Egypt is a better place for everyone, "Bread, Liberty, Social Justice" as we were chanting like the old days.

Just before starting the march in Manial and then the beginning of the march

Part of the chants in Manial "Dicator, dictator, tomorrow your turn will come... Inside the church, inside El-Azhar, down down military rule"

We arrived to University Bridge where at the end lies the embassy of Israel. I was kind of thinking, what if things turn bad there, what if people focused more on Israel then our march against SCAF. I was wrong, there were even people in the building where the embassy lies, holding Egyptian flags and cheering. We did say some chants against them and SCAF but nothing more.

And there, we saw more people coming from other marches and joining together, in front of Cairo University. At the point, I felt, yes, people are really there in the streets. I knew from twitter that other marches already started and with huge numbers, but seeing it with my eyes, was totally different. It's like your faith is materialized in front of you.


We continued walking and chanting, we passed by Dokki and the numbers were huge. All along the way, we were trying to not block the roads for cars leaving a lane for them. And almost all of the drivers were not at all angry with what we were doing. That day, i really felt that the Egyptian people are not that dumb.
One of the chants I liked was "This is a revolution, not a party".

This is one of the 2 big flags we crossed along the way in our march.








In Dokki, chanting "People want to down the system (referring to the old ruling system that is still there)

An organized march tribute for martyrs was organized. Wooden coffins with photos or Martyrs, drums playing. It started from Galaa square, passing by Kasr El-Nil bridge. I was ahead of the march tribute and crossed the bridge to the Square. It was already packed, with no place for a foot. People on both sides waiting for the march to come.

Finally, we managed to arrive to Tahrir. I met a friend at the entrance then we went inside, trying to meet another one. It was the most packed time I saw the Square. Last year, i only went couple of times in some of the "Millions" but it was not as full as that day. At one time we were walking against the flow of people, like being caught in a trap. My brother and friends were also trying as much as they could to protect me from being crushed or harassed. I was pushed all the way, till we could reach a less crowded place.
We decided to have something to eat which was a big challenge as we were not the only one who had the same idea. Finally, we managed to get Koshary and while eating in the street, there were more marches around us, in Talaat Harb street. After that, i went to meet other friends who were resting in a coffee. They were also in other marches that morning.

As I didn't stay much in the square itself I can't tell much about what was going on there. What i noticed is that there were different stages, the one of Ikhwan at the entrance from Kasr El-Nil bridge with lot of microphones, so that they could block people from flooding the square. There was another one with a big screen showing the martyrs and couple of other stages. I couldn't feel the "one voice" resonating in all the place. The Ikhwan more into celebrations, on the contrary of all people who went in marches to the Square, to continue the revolution and ask for all the demands that are still yet to be achieved.

I realized that day that no matter what happens, we, the people, will not stay silent  We, the people, will fight again and again for our rights. We, the people, have the power and that anyone who will be in charge of the country, should do what the people are demanding, otherwise, we will not leave the streets till they are fulfilled. No matter how long it will take, no matter what the price will be, we found our voice back and shall never lose it again.
I don't know how things will go the next period, but one thing i'm sure of, I regained my faith in my people and the revolution continues...

On the verge of a 2nd Revolution?

Tomorrow is the 25th of January. One year after our revolution. One year has passed with martyrs, military trials, injured people, lies, dirty politics.. Are we going to witness another revolting day? Are people willing to shout one more time, in loud voice, we want BREAD, FREEDOM and JUSTICE?
I wish I can have the answers or predict what would happen but I can't. I wish I can see where we are going but we are still in the dark. I hope I can go tomorrow and say it's enough. I want to see the change in my country. I want to feel the wind of change and get power and hope from others.
Tomorrow is an important day. If you decide to go on the streets or stay at your home, it's your call. But just don't forget all the sacrifices that have been done, not only in the revolution but before that.
Long live Egypt!