Five Years On: Time to Remember Those Who Gave All for the Egyptian Revolution · Global Voices
Salma Essam

Tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of the start of the Egyptian revolution. Photograph from a protest in Tahrir in 2012. By Mosa'ab El Shamy, flickr, used with permission.
Walk down any street in downtown Cairo, you will likely see some wall graffiti voicing outrage and depicting the significant uproar that once existed. Steady growth in Egypt’s poverty, expanding political corruption, and unequal opportunities were the main ingredients of the Egyptian uprising of 2011, known as the 25th of January revolution. Located in the heart of Cairo, Tahrir Square became an icon for a series of events that shaped Egypt's modern history. Pitched tents, anti-Mubarak banners, and fluttering flags embodied the spirit of the scene. Crowds of liberal secularists to Islamic firebrands filled in the square, all summoned under one slogan “Bread, freedom, social justice”.
It all started with small networks of activists who were gearing up for mass action against the autocratic regime of Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of Egyptians from different parts of the country positively responded to calls on social media and defied the government ban to protest against the then president. It was the beginning of the end of a 30-year rule of a tyrant regime. Eighteen days of a sit-in succeeded in bringing down the country’s ruler on the February 11, 2011.
In no period of Egyptian history have people felt that sense of freedom as the one following February 2011. Nevertheless, as the situation intensified, the revolt started to take a new trajectory. Factions grew more disoriented as they began using Tahrir Square for partisan-inclined demands. With time, the political scene witnessed more struggles towards hegemony and power. A series of violent cascades followed as a result. In three years, the tightly organized Islamists, who managed to win presidential elections and a majority of seats in the Parliament, were dissolved by then Minister of Defense Abdelfattah El Sisi in July 2013 – leaving no room for political Islam in Egypt’s game of politics.
Since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi, Cairo turned into a battle field between the government, backed by Sisi and opposition movements. Sisi has promised to bring security and stability and to confront what he called terrorism. However, his critics say he had intentionally cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood organization and any forms of resistance.
At present, ahead of the 25th of January anniversary, the state is progressively tightening its grip over social media platforms, fearing the effective role it has played since 2011 in agitating mass opposition. It has been reported that Egyptian authorities have recently arrested three activists, including Taher Mokhtar, a famous anti-regime physician, after raiding their apartment in downtown Cairo for criticizing the country’s military and president.
Interior Ministry officials affirmed that they are to enforce security measures across Egypt and to confront any potential attacks in different announcements. A number of high-profile anti-Sisi activists are being detained with no clear charges, cultural venues are being shut down, and police regular check inspections are being carried out. The situation has worsened with the substantial execution sentences that have recently been issued. In response, a severe social media backlash gained ground against judge Nagi Shehata for his politicized death penalty verdicts against activists opposing the regime without enough evidence.
Journalist and human rights activist Hossam Bahgat directed harshly sarcastic criticism to judge Nagi Shehata on Facebook account:
هو ناجي شحاتة أكيد مش استثناء. واللي بيقوله في جلسات محكمته من شتيمة…https://t.co/IWRVBZ1Wkn #اوقفوا_ناجي_شحاتة
— hossam bahgat (@hossambahgat) January 17, 2016
Nagi Shehata is definitely not an exception. The insults he says to the accused and the lawyers in his court sessions and what he says about 25th of January “loss” in the newspapers is exactly the same opinion of his fellow judges. However, he decided to voice his opinions publicly in a bullying manner because he's certain he's not going to be held accountable before the law. In this sense, he even lost the “external” condition that gives him the right to decide upon the fates of people and even issue death sentences. And since that he committed many unprofessional mistakes, he should be expelled just in an attempt to preserve the disillusioned prestige and the fake hegemony of the judiciary. In essence, #StopNagiShehata, so he could inaugurate a new office with Mortada Mansour or present a TV show. Because this is what he deserves
In the meantime, Egyptian politicians, journalists, and activists trended a Twitter hashtag under the name: “I participated in the January revolution” in an attempt to counter the state’s severe actions. Later, a Facebook page that carries the same name was launched and has exceeded 5K likes in three days.
Political satire TV show host and popular activist Bassem Youssef incubated #RememberThem into #IParticipatedIn25thOfJanuaryRevolution to shed light on the jailed political activists, as he explained in a series of tweets:
١ #انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير هاشتاج اتمنى اننا نستغله بشكل مختلف،نفتكر فيه الناس اللي اتحبست بسبب الثورة اللي احنا فخورين بيها رغم الاخفاقات
— Dr Bassem Youssef (@DrBassemYoussef) January 17, 2016
I participated in January revolution hashtag: I wish we could use it in a different way by remembering those who were arrested unfairly because of the revolution that we are proud of regardless of the setbacks
Then he tweeted:
٢الكام يوم الجايين قررت استخدم الحساب ده لنشر قصص المعتقلين ظلما و المختفين قسريا او المحبوسين بتهم عجيبة. من واجبنا نفتكرهم كلهم سواء كانوا
— Dr Bassem Youssef (@DrBassemYoussef) January 17, 2016
In the coming few days, I decided to use my personal account to publish the prisoners’ stories whether they are arrested with no charges or those who are missing due to enforced disappearance, or those accused of strange accusations. Our duty is to remember them all.
٥و عشان يتم التركيز على القصص يا ريت نستخدم هاشتاج #افتكروهم مع #انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير عشان نركز الضوء عليهم.مش مجرد اسماء،قصص
— Dr Bassem Youssef (@DrBassemYoussef) January 17, 2016
And in order to focus on these stories, we'd rather use the #RememberThem along with #IParticipatedIn25thOfJanuaryRevolution in order to center the light on them. Not only names but stories.
Journalist Amro Ali used both hashtags in honoring the martyrs of the January revolution as he tweets:
They participated in the #Jan25 Revolution. But would not live to remind #Egypt. #افتكروهم #انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير pic.twitter.com/N6mvOew9mI
— Amro Ali (@_amroali) January 18, 2016
He then described the Egyptian police actions as “insane”:
Insane: #Egypt Police searched 5000 apartments checking random Facebook accounts Ahead Of Revolution Anniversary https://t.co/Aou15S1soc
— Amro Ali (@_amroali) January 21, 2016
Infamous for opposing the current regime, 6 April movement posted a  mourning song:
تحية لروح شهداء #25يناير ثاروا من أجل العيش والحرية والعدالة والكرامة فقتلهم أمن النظام #انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير https://t.co/5Ilh0Z6RfW
— A6Mحركة شباب 6 أبريل (@shabab6april) January 18, 2016
Greetings for the souls of the martyrs. They revolted for bread, freedom, justice, and dignity. So the regime killed them
Egyptian Radio announcer and writer Ahmad El Esseily tweeted:
طب #انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير بقه؛ مش عشان حد ولا عشان الغلابة ولا عشان مصر حتى؛ شاركت عشان نفسي، عشان انا ابقى جزء من أنبل حاجة حصلت في مصر.
— Ahmad El Esseily (@ahmadesseily) January 18, 2016
I participated in the January revolution not for somebody, not for the poor, not even for Egypt, but for myself, and in order to be a part from the most honorable thing that has happened in Egypt
Activist Ghada Shahbender added:
#انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير و افتخر لانها أطاحت بدكتاتور فاسد سرق البلد و جهل شعب #انا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير و ماعرفش ثورة غيرها
— Ghada Shahbender (@ghadasha) January 16, 2016
I also participated in the January revolution and I'm proud because it overthrew a corrupt dictator who robbed the country and made people ignorant. I participated in the January revolution and I know no other revolutions
Journalist Ahmad Gamal said:
#أنا_شاركت_في_ثورة_يناير ما أعظمها تهمة pic.twitter.com/KUd2vDz0tw
— Ahmed Gamal Ziada (@ahmed_gimy) January 16, 2016
I participated in January revolution, and how great this “accusation” is!