Mohamed Eshra's blog

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Egypt Islamist-secular clashes expose viciousness of radical Islam

A video from clashes between secularists and Islamists in Egypt, where over 100 were injured, exposes viciousness of radical Islam.

The video shows extremist Islamist protesters, mostly bearded men, aiming fireworks and hurling rocks towards liberal and secular protesters while shouting "Allahu Akbar". Shouting "Allahu Akbar" in this situation is considered by the extremists as a battle cry, since Wahhabis consider anyone who doesn't follow their doctrines an Infidel, they even accuse other Muslims of not being a true Muslim if they don't believe in their doctrines.

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Egypt uprising: Why we did it

It all started when a group of youth movements planned a day of protests around the country on January 25, calling for reform in Egypt. Some people on the streets were mentioning the event a few days earlier, but no one really predicted it could turn out to be the largest protest movement in Egypt in a generation.

The day came, and tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets all over Egypt. In a country governed by laws that allow the arrest of groups of more than three people, police tried to disperse them using force. Clashes involving hundreds of young men and riot police erupted. Two protesters and one policeman were killed. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at peaceful demonstrators to break up the protests. Protesters fled but pledged to continue protesting on the following day. That night, the Egyptian government, for the first time ever, blocked Twitter - which protesters used to coordinate movements. Other websites were also blocked, like bambuser.com (to prevent live streaming of demonstrations) and other websites reporting live about the demonstrations. Different ways to bypass the censorship were immediately discovered and shared by Egyptians online, to thwart this attempt by the government to silence dissent.

Protests continued on the following days, and by Friday morning the government had shut down the internet and the nation’s cell phone carriers, to try and prevent what turned out to be the most violent day of protests against Mubarak's 30-year rule. By Friday night police had disappeared and the army took charge of security after at least 20 people were killed, more than 1,000 were injured and many police stations were burnt down. We knew this from Al Jazeera, before the government closed its office in Egypt a couple of days later.

The deaths sparked a new wave of non-stop protests, sit-ins and demonstrations. I took part in them. Millions took to the streets in anger, defying the imposed curfew to denounce the deaths and demand justice, democracy and constitutional amendment. You could hear slogans against dictatorship, corruption, police brutality and poverty. The protesters chanted in unison: "Freedom, freedom. Social justice,”

They all had one demand in common: Mubarak has to leave. The dictator who has killed his own people has no place among them anymore. The dictatorship that has maintained its 30-year-old grip through violence, oppression and rigged elections, has to go.

WATCH: Amid cries for Mubarak's immediate departure, demonstators - led by a guitarist off camera - break into song during the "Friday of Departure".

Translation: Let's make Mubarak hear our voices. We all, one hand, requested one thing, leave leave leave ... Down Down Hosni Mubarak, Down Down Hosni Mubarak ... The people want to dismantle the regime .... He is to go, we are not going ... He is to go, we won't leave ... We all, one hand, ask one thing, leave leave.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Santas Shouldn't Be Gassed

A group of demonstrators protesting the Apartheid Wall were met with a shower of tear gas, sound bombs and rubber bullets from Israeli occupation forces.

The International Court of Justice has labeled the wall illegal - and says it should be taken down.

Christmas celebrations went ahead in Bethlehem - the birthplace of Jesus - despite the hardships, which many considered a kind of resistance to the occupation.

I hope that Palestinian Christians and Muslims will always celebrate Christmas together while their struggle for freedom and dignity goes on.

Update 1: Israeli Jews protest against Christmas lights

Update 2: Israeli Mayor Bans Christmas Trees

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