'The January revolution continues' proclaim Egyptians ahead of sixth anniversary

Published January 24th, 2017 - 12:56 GMT
Protesters demonstrate in 2011 (Wikimedia Commons)
Protesters demonstrate in 2011 (Wikimedia Commons)

“The January revolution continues” has been trending in Egypt ahead of tomorrow’s anniversary, which will mark six years since the beginning of the popular protests which would eventually oust President Hosni Mubarak.

On January 25 2011, a “Day of Rage” was arranged on social media to coincide with the country’s National Police Day, a symbol of state oppression under Mubarak. Eighteen days of marches, demonstrations and civil disobedience followed, forcing the country’s leader for three decades to step down.

Now, half-a-dozen years on, the country is led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the military general turned head-of-state, who won 96 percent of the vote in elections three years ago. Sisi had previously removed democratically elected Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi from power in 2013, following mass anti-Morsi protests.

While many continue to enthusiastically support President Sisi, he faces opposition both from supporters of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, as well as increasingly from those who are frustrated with the economic situation in Egypt.

It is in this context that many have taken to social media to remember the issues which pushed the Egyptian people to rise up six years ago. In 2011 it was police brutality, corruption, autocratic governance, poverty, unemployment and corruption which galvanized public opposition. In 2017, many of the same problems persist, causing some on Twitter to proclaim that “the revolution is ongoing”.

With resolve we can achieve the goals of our revolution #TheJanuaryRevolutionContinues #TheRevolutionIsOngoing

Take part, people! January 25 - Mohamed Mahmoud [Street, where protests took place in 2011] - April 6 [youth movement, participated in protests] - Revolutionary Socialists [Trotskyist group that were instrumental in the Tahrir Square protests] - the People of Rabaa [Square where a mass killing of Morsi supporters took place in 2013] and the pain in our hearts -  #TheJanuaryRevolutionContinues #TheRevolutionIsOngoing

January brings us together and brings together all the freedom-seekers of different races and religions and sects. January is the month of freedom and freedom-seekers.

 Our revolution is the revolution of heroes against oppression and tyranny. #TheJanuaryRevolutionContinues

 Hand in hand/We will expose treachery/Hand in hand/We will get rid of this military coup. #TheJanuaryRevolutionContinues

   

So that every criminal, corrupt person, killer and traitor is brought to justice. #TheJanuaryRevolutionContinues #TheRevolutionIsOngoing

The violations of an immoral system. We will not give up our right. We will sacrifice again and again. Even if we sacrifice our own souls.

Ahead of the anniversary, The Egyptian Revolutionary Council (ERC), a group opposed to the military overthrow of Morsi in 2013, has called for Egyptians to mark the sixth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution with acts of civil disobedience against Sisi.

“Political solutions with the military regime in Egypt at this stage beautify the face of dictatorship,” said the leader of the ERC, Maha Azzam. “As such, revolution is the only solution in response to the regime’s measures against the opposition.”

RA

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Tags:TwitterEgyptian Revolutionary CouncilMuslim BrotherhoodAbdel Fattah El-SisiMohammed MorsiMaha AzzamHosni MubarakMohamed Mahmoud
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