Egypt“s autocratic government is worse than any before it. It must be dealt with before the country explodes into violenceThe outpouring of joy that followed Hosni Mubarak“s resignation was palpable. It was 11 February 2011 - eight years ago to this day. Egyptians of all faiths and ages and backgrounds, united by a desire for freedom, gathered in Tahrir Square to bring 30 years of tyranny to an end. We believed that as the people of the region“s most historic power, inspired by the success of the Tunisian revolution, we were setting in motion a chain of events that would guarantee Egypt“s freedom.But after 30 months the dream became a nightmare. Letting the military manage the transitional period was probably the biggest mistake of all; revolutions never give power to pillars of the old regime. Perhaps later on we were complacent: our first free presidential election, and the subsequent referendum on a new constitution, gave us confidence that the changes taking place could not be stopped or undone. But the solidarity that defined the protests in Tahrir Square was disintegrating, and neither the government of Mohamed Morsi nor any of the other political powers could resolve the differences or abate the fears - of the old regime, the political parties, the army and the people in the street - that had started to infuse public life.By now the horrifying details are familiar: there are illegal arrests, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings Related: The EU“s deal with Libya is sentencing refugees to death | Sally Hayden Continue reading...
|
