The Egyptian Government Asks the U.S. to “Show Restraint in Ferguson” and Twitter Users Respond With This Brilliant Hashtag · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

Egyptian and non-Egyptian Twitter users are giving tips to U.S. police on how to deal with the ongoing unrest in Ferguson, Missouri.
The sarcastic hashtag #EgyPoliceTipsToUS was launched on Twitter in reaction to a statement by the Egyptian government urging U.S. authorities “to show restraint” in Ferguson, where local police in military-grade riot grade and protesters have been facing off for 11 days, after an officer killed an unarmed black teenager. The police in Ferguson are predominantly white and have been strong-arming journalists on the scene, using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters.
According to Twitter users, Egypt should be the last country to provide such advice to the U.S., given its track record in handing its own unrest, from the start of the Egyptian revolution on January 25, 2011. The hashtag brought up some the atrocities committed by Egyptians authorities against protestors since, including one of the bloodiest days in modern protest history, when more than 800 protesters were killed in Rabaa on August 14, 2013.
MENA research associate at the Committee to Protect Journalists Jason Stern tweeted at his followers:
What #EgyptPoliceTips do you have for the US police in #Ferguson?
— Jason Stern (@IbnLarry) August 19, 2014
He shared the following tips with videos showing Egyptian police brutality and tactics:
3. When things get out of hand, let thugs on camels do your dirty work #EgyptPoliceTips https://t.co/nQJB24w4FG
— Jason Stern (@IbnLarry) August 19, 2014
4. Don’t just threaten journalists that you will shoot them. Actually shoot them #EgyptPoliceTips https://t.co/rOf3GY9gXm
— Jason Stern (@IbnLarry) August 19, 2014
1. If you rip a woman's clothing while beating her, make sure to cover her before beating further. #EgyptPoliceTips https://t.co/SVz8xXWRNJ
— Jason Stern (@IbnLarry) August 19, 2014
Other Twitter users followed with their own tips.
User @befroggled, with 760 followers on Twitter, referred to the forced virginity tests conducted by the Egyptian military on female protesters in Tahrir Square in 2011.
Round up female protesters for virginity tests. This was President Sisi's favourite way to deal with female protesters. #EgyPoliceTipsToUS
— B (@befroggled) August 20, 2014
She also hinted at the authorities’ use of counter-terrorism as a pretext to crackdown on protesters:
If you're concerned your crackdown on protesters will result in a public outcry, ask for a mandate to combat terrorism. #EgyPoliceTipsToUS
— B (@befroggled) August 20, 2014
Bilal Zrebel tells his 5,200 followers:
Civilian dressed police do a double job kill protesters & frame protesters of being armed! Win-win #EgyPoliceTipsToUS pic.twitter.com/9o1kP199aj
— لاوطن تحت حكم العسكر (@bilalZrebel) August 20, 2014
And in reference to the Rabaa massacre, in which Egyptian government forces killed more than 800 protestors in one day a year ago, burning some of them to death, he writes:
Burn them dead and alive, “supposedly” fire leaves no evidence! #EgyPoliceTipsToUS pic.twitter.com/uVIVlm7GDZ
— لاوطن تحت حكم العسكر (@bilalZrebel) August 20, 2014
OthmaNation, with 1,500 followers, mentioned the beating of the ‘blu bra protester’ by members of the Egyptian army during an anti-military protest in December 2011.
When you tear females clothes up, claim they did it to themselves to frame your decent agents. #EgyPoliceTipsToUS pic.twitter.com/u5bhgpLbkf
— الفلويد® (@OthmaNation) August 20, 2014
And lawyer Sherif Saaadni shared this advice with his 3,902 followers:
Don't implement gradual & life-preserving steps while disbursing crowds. Where's the fun & deterrence in that? #EgyPoliceTipsToUS
— Sherif Saadani سعدني (@ssaadani) August 20, 2014