Arab World: Is the NYPD “Pulling a Mubarak?”

Arab netizens are watching with awe news of New York police forcefully evicting Occupy Wall Street protesters at Zuccotti Park in New York. Some say they are “pulling a Mubarak” in reference to the brutal manner in which Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak dealt with protesters who ousted him in the Egyptian revolution.

Among them is Egyptian activist Gigi Ibrahim, who is in New York, who notes that the New York police force is “pulling a Mubarak” in the way they suppress protests:

@Gsquare86: Cut trains, prevent press, tear up tents, use pepper spray, & arrest journalists ? NYPD are pulling a Mubarak on #Occupywallst

She adds:

@Gsquare86: NYPD is reminding me of Egyptian Army raiding of Tahrir sq on Aug 1st to end July8 sit in OWS..same pigs different face

and continues:

@Gsquare86: NYPD chasing OWS around lower manhattan. It would almost be comical if it wasn't so sad.

Bahraini writer Ali Al Saeed notes:

@alialsaeed: What's funny is that Obama has a lot to say about arabspring yet fails to recognize what's going in in his own backyard.

Egyptian Mosa'ab Elshamy adds:

@mosaaberizing: If they were *really* inspired by Tahrir, now maybe a good time for the Occupy protesters to test their rock-throwing skills. Just saying.

And Egypt-based journalist Bel Trew asks:

@Beltrew: Why are police forces& governments around the world so terrified of people occupying spaces?When will this violence end?it's shameful

Meanwhile, UAE-based journalist Tom Gara jokes:

@tomgara: Every time you seriously compare Occupy protests to the Arab uprisings, God kills a puppy.

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