Merry Christmas Eve!
Christmas Eve in Cairo, and all is well (as well as can be expected).
Egyptians did indeed take to Tahrir Square yesterday, as mentioned in my previous post. Upwards of 50,000 people (estimate by Dostor news site) demonstrated against SCAF ("the military"), in particular their tolerance toward those in the army and police who killed, beat, and otherwise abused protesters over the past week.
The protest was dubbed "Friday of Reclaiming Honor", given that the police and army were especially abusive of women protesters, ripping their veils off, exposing their bodies, kicking and beating women - both protesters as well as passers-by, who sought to help their Egyptian sisters and save them from the boot of the army.
See today's report in almasryalyoum (by clicking here)
Also demonstrating on Friday were those who support SCAF. They appeared in the thousands in Abbasiya Square chanting pro-military slogans, and denouncing those in Tahrir as "thugs" and vandals.
The good news in all of this is the apparent peacefulness of both demonstrations and lack of any reported violence. Today is equally calm. Egyptians are definitely divided over whether SCAF should continue to govern well into 2012 (and maybe beyond); they are divided about Tahrir demonstrations and demonstrators, and whether they are true revolutionaries or "thugs"; they are divided over the best way to get out of this political and economic morass they are in.
Elections continue (to the great relief of those who want to do something that promises change and stability); the results are the Islamists are winning, and winning big (to the great concern of those in Tahrir and those who thought the 'revolution' would bring progressive change). The third round of lower house of parliament elections will be held in early January ... results should confirm the Muslim Brothers as the 40%-plus dominant force in Egyptian politics; they might even top 50%. And the next power is the more conservative (Saudi-funded) Salafists, who have won at least 25% of the vote.
Merry Christmas, and God Bless us, everyone (a la Tiny Tim).
Egyptians did indeed take to Tahrir Square yesterday, as mentioned in my previous post. Upwards of 50,000 people (estimate by Dostor news site) demonstrated against SCAF ("the military"), in particular their tolerance toward those in the army and police who killed, beat, and otherwise abused protesters over the past week.
The protest was dubbed "Friday of Reclaiming Honor", given that the police and army were especially abusive of women protesters, ripping their veils off, exposing their bodies, kicking and beating women - both protesters as well as passers-by, who sought to help their Egyptian sisters and save them from the boot of the army.
See today's report in almasryalyoum (by clicking here)
Also demonstrating on Friday were those who support SCAF. They appeared in the thousands in Abbasiya Square chanting pro-military slogans, and denouncing those in Tahrir as "thugs" and vandals.
The good news in all of this is the apparent peacefulness of both demonstrations and lack of any reported violence. Today is equally calm. Egyptians are definitely divided over whether SCAF should continue to govern well into 2012 (and maybe beyond); they are divided about Tahrir demonstrations and demonstrators, and whether they are true revolutionaries or "thugs"; they are divided over the best way to get out of this political and economic morass they are in.
Elections continue (to the great relief of those who want to do something that promises change and stability); the results are the Islamists are winning, and winning big (to the great concern of those in Tahrir and those who thought the 'revolution' would bring progressive change). The third round of lower house of parliament elections will be held in early January ... results should confirm the Muslim Brothers as the 40%-plus dominant force in Egyptian politics; they might even top 50%. And the next power is the more conservative (Saudi-funded) Salafists, who have won at least 25% of the vote.
Merry Christmas, and God Bless us, everyone (a la Tiny Tim).
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