Flirtatious Death Wishes
"The government calls us terrorists, so I ask you: have you ever seen a terrorist who can dance like this?" asked Abdelrahman Fathy, breaking into a jig in Ramses Square where the atmosphere resembled that of a carnival. Where hundreds of protesters furious at the removal of Mohammed Morsi and the alienation of the Muslim Brotherhood in governance displayed their faith in the providence of Islam by demonstrating their carefree attitude, despite governing warning to disperse. |
| Hassan Ammar/The Associated Press, August 16, 2013, Supporters of Egypt's ousted president Mohammed Morsi chant slogans against Defence Minister General Abdul-Fattah el-Sissi in Ramses Square, downtown Cairo, Friday |
This, following the Muslin Brotherhood's deadly "day of rage" which resulted in the deaths of 600 Egyptians, and during which thousands others were severely injured in their fierce determination to obey the instructions of the Brotherhood leadership, out to demonstrate to the international community closely witnessing events, just how brutishly uncivil Egypt's military is, in cracking down on innocent civilians whose human rights were being so unmercilessly trampled upon.
Not their fault, after all, if hordes of passionate Islamists trusting the advice of the Brotherhood mounted civil disobedience events clogging up public squares, shrilly demanding the reversal of events that had deprived them of their right to live under an oppressive theocratic regime purporting to democratic rule in replacement of the tyranny of the autocratic former air force general and President Hosni Mubarak.
To further complicate the situation the protest group Tamarod at the forefront of demands that Mohammad Morsi be removed urged Egyptians to retake the streets that belonged to all. It was their duty, they were informed, "to reject domestic terrorism and foreign interference". Tamarod is emerging, it would appear, as a virulent counterpart in their philosophy, to Brotherhood supporters' not quite benign; rather hyper-nationalists.
And those who took up the Tamarod challenge armed themselves and became involved in opposing the Brotherhood supporters to demonstrate how disgusted they are with the violence, by themselves engaging in violence. When the Fateh mosque in central Cairo which Brotherhood leaders were using as a morgue and emergency medical clinic became a refuge for those same Brotherhood leaders, and it was entered by police who escorted them out of the mosque after engaging in negotiations, they were met by armed Egyptians who had heeded the Tamarod call to make their position known.
Mohamed El-Shahed/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images An army officer pointed his weapon at the crowd as he helped a man to leave Cairo's Fateh Mosque on Saturday.
The area that had been turned into a war zone presented as a challenge to the military, attempting to impose order after the deaths of so many who had challenged their authority to do so. As curfew fell the siege ended with no clear reports of casualties. Dozens of people were evacuated from the mosque and placed in police trucks and army vehicles.
The deadly battles between security forces and Islamists, with the added complication of civilians battling one another left an additional 173 dead on Friday.
The anti-Morsi civilians surrounded the mosque to attempt to beat their Brotherhood opponents as they emerged, despite attempts to bring the Islamists out safely on the part of the military. Armed with rubber hoses, metal pipes, wooden clubs, anti-Morsi civilians attacked whomever they could, including journalists who happened to be nearby.
They were the Tamarod-inspired vigilantes. Taking back their version of Egypt. They spouted charges of 'terrorism' against the Morsi supporters. Some theorize they were plants of the military, instructed how they must react on coming face to face with the pro-Morsi crowd, and what they must chant, in support of the military leadership charges of terrorism on the part of the Brotherhood.
Adding to the already violently tense situation permeating the atmosphere as 'popular committees' in neighbourhoods set up their checkpoints to vet cars and just incidentally rob drivers. Armed men were roaming freely, creating another menacing threat to an already incendiary situation teetering on the verge of civil war.
As such it is critical that the military regain control of the streets, despite the on-again, off-again instructions of Brotherhood leaders to their flock to challenge the authority of the military and the interim government.
Under these circumstances, and until order is clearly restored, the streets clear, the police and military in full command of the situation, it will remain unclear who the roaming bands of civilians, some armed some not, represent; the pro-Morsi or the anti-Morsi factions. Both of which can reasonably be assumed to represent in part, thugs of convenience, taking advantage of the unruliness that has overtaken the country in the last few weeks.
As for charges of terrorism levelled by the military against the Brotherhood leadership, they appear to be well aimed, given the situation in the Sinai where Brotherhood involvement with Hamas, Islamic Jihad, their two offshoots, and Salafist Bedouin Sheiks have installed a pact in support of the Brotherhood.
Labels: Conflict, Egypt, Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, August 18, 2013
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