My Ode to the Revolution

Whenever I feel like the revolution has inhaled its last breath of air, I quietly remind myself to fear nothing.  

For I know the revolution is a dream that has found a place in the hearts and minds of Egyptians. 

It has found a place with those who allow themselves to imagine a better world. 

The revolution is alive. 

Its spirit felt amongst the men and women of Egypt.

Its spirit felt amongst the young and old of Egypt.

Its spirit felt amongst those not willing to give up on their dream. 

I see it in their courage. 

I see it in their generosity.

I see it in their optimism. 

The revolution is a dream for a better Egypt. 

Long live the dream.

الثورة مستمرة

Mothers for Justice in Egypt

Powerful mothers, women and girls gathered at the cabinet on Feb 5, while it was in session with three messages for the members of Egypt's newly formed parliament. This was in response to recent violence in a Portsaid football stadium in which 74 lost their lives.

Translation:

"1. The people's will is respected, 2. SCAF does not rule, 3. Our brothers' blood shall not go. Members of Parliament. The Revolution is everywhere. Legitimacy is from the Square."

Girl Power: Revolution Continues

Heliopolis, Korba. Photo taken on 4 Feb 2012

Powerful Protest

Campaigners are taking to the streets of Egypt to spread revolutionary messages while standing in silence. I came across this campaign on Salah Salem street in Heliopolis, on the 28th of January 2012.

The people want prompt just trials

We don't want compensation for their souls. We want punishment for their killing.

We don't want compensation for their souls. We want punishment for their killing.

You started and we will continue the journey.

Your life in retaliation.

A martyr is not simply a number in the news.

No constitution under military rule.

Egyptian blood is of high value

"They may torture me, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body, but not my obedience."
Mahatma Ghandi

Presidential elections = Stability.

Punishment to who killed my brother with a bullet.

A martyr is not simply a number in the news.

Someone lost his life for a free life.

Martyrs' blood is the revolution's fuel.

The people want prompt just trials

The people want urgent just trials. Martyr's blood is the revolution's fuel.

Hello Grandpa...

Photo / Design by Yasmin Salem. Photo taken on 27 Jan 2012 in Tahrir

Children sing song of Freedom in Maspeero

Children sing a song of freedom outside Maspeero (where the national television building is based) on Jan 28, 2012

Translation of Song:

Supreme Council respond to us
You say truth
And kill us
Our imprisoned brothers and sisters
Oppressed in your prisons

Freedom, Freedom, Freedom

"Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee."

Artist Unknown, Heliopolis, Merghani Street, 28 August 2011

Artist Unknown, Heliopolis, Merghani Street, 28 August 2011

Muhammed Ali's, "Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee," came to my mind as a good timely framework connecting the images back to (post) revolutionary Egypt. Revolutionary and counter-revolutionary forces seem to be engaged in a long boxing match.

I discovered these reincarnations of Panda under a bridge in Heliopolis. I'm not sure if they're by the same artist. 

What would you do if you were President of Egypt?

A friend asked me yesterday what I'd do if I were in charge of the country. I've always found questions that begin with "what if?"exciting. What if you won the lottery? What if you could live for a thousand years? What if you were president of Egypt?

My reply was, if I was in charge, "The people would be the red line." It's a sentiment I've often heard people chant during marches in Tahrir, reflecting people's desire to see Egypt's citizens treated with respect and dignity. 

My policies would put people at the heart of all its programmes ensuring the main pillars of the revolution were developed. I'd also ensure that the government, democratically elected every term, served the country and not the other way around. To see that happen, I'd start off with a constitution that stated on its cover in bold "الشعب خط احمر" that "The people are the red line." The constitution would be sealed in gold with the aim of always upholding "Freedom, Dignity and Social Justice."

My Egyptian utopia would be overseen democratically by three departments charged with fulfilling the revolution continuously. I'd hire ministers tasked with heading up these departments.

Freedom: A minister of human rights would ensure people's freedoms were safeguarded. We'd see an Egypt where citizens were treated equally no matter what their gender, ethnic, religious or sexual background. All Egyptians would be equal in front of the law. Egyptians would no longer have to live in fear of retribution for expressing their views. Police brutality would no longer be tolerated. Police officers would receive a respectable place in society again thanks to their citizen respecting philosophies. The law would encourage mutual respect.

Dignity: A minister of anti-corruption would be tasked to clean up politics, media, business and the justice system. It would ensure the abuse of power was no longer feasible. The main foundation for that would have to be a fair independent justice system. The clean up would ensure corruption was no longer tolerated offering people equal opportunities and a dignified status as citizens of Egypt.

Social Justice: A minister of development would implement policies and programmes promoting a modern 21st century economy, where jobs, education, healthcare, farming, technology, tourism and the environment were advanced with social justice at the core.

Finally, Tahrir would always serve as a place for reflection and protest ensuring those in power are held accountable.

Best New Year's Eve in Tahrir 2011

Minutes to the countdown as Muslims and Christians celebrated the New Year's Eve in Tahrir in solidarity, sharing love and singing the national anthem, and finally the words: "Bread, Freedom, Social Justice" and "Down with SCAF" as we headed into 2012. As we entered the new year, balloons bearing the colours of Egypt's flag rose into the air as we heard: "Happy new year Tahrir!"

Season's Greetings

It was a tragic day when a country's people shed blood, when women were beaten and humiliated and when a country's history was burnt down to the ashes...by its own people, gone for generations past and future. Let's pray for freedom, change, dignity and social justice for the sake of all that was lost. Let's hope that Egypt's new history will be written in the dawn of democracy and that all that was lost was not lost in vain.  


Season's Greetings with hope for more peace and love in 2012. 

One

Tahrir on December 23, 2011

Egypt's Girls are a Red Line

A heart warming march by women in Tahrir in response to some of the recent violence against protesting women. 

Men formed a protective cordon around the women what seemed like a symbolic gesture to me.

Translation of Women's Chants:

The revolution's daughter is not stripped. Egypt's daughter is not stripped. Egypt's daughter is not stripped. Egypt's girls are a red line. Egypt's girls are a red line. Down with the ruling military. Down with the ruling military. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom.

Humanity

Although I'd been to Tahrir numerous times over the course of the summer, this time round Tahrir was a different place to contend with. There are certain images that will stay in my mind forever. They're not the kind of graphic images that we have become accustomed to through countless YouTube postings and news reports, but the kind that inspire humanity

The first image was that of the countless volunteer doctors helping the wounded in Tahrir. Working in makeshift hospitals on pavements around the square, they cared for their patients in the dark with little more than flashlights to guide them.

The second memory was that of the volunteer motorcycle drivers, transporting the injured with a high sense of urgency through the crowds from Mohamed Mahmoud Street to the makeshift hospitals.

But one image will last forever. It's the image of those enthusiastic youths, with hearts of lions, prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Egypt's freedom.

The little face of Panda in a window sill

After spending the summer looking for Panda around the city and with a little help, I found out that my Panda treasure hunt was made possible by an artist called Sad Panda (unknown to the artist). Click here to see Sad Panda's work. 

I'd always thought of Panda as an Egyptian revolutionary, saddened by some of the events going on around him.

Artist unconfirmed. Shot taken on 24 September 2011 in El Horriya Cafe 

I was looking through some of my photographs today when I discovered this shot here of Panda that I'd taken over the summer. It's the little face of Panda in the window sill of a cafe called El Horriya in downtown Cairo. The slogan next to Panda's face says: And then what? I'm not a hundred percent sure if this is by Sad Panda, but it resembles some of the artist's work I've come across.

I first discovered Panda in Tahrir on one of the walls of the Mogama3. Smitten by Panda and following a few more sightings, I decided to make it my mission to locate Panda around the city and to document its whereabouts around Cairo. Please get in touch if you've seen any more sightings of Panda. Thank you.

The Cow Calls Out...We're Falling Asleep

Artist unknown. Photo taken on 31st October 2011 on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, near Tahrir Square. 

The Cow calls out:
Ha Ha

 And says: My children
Ha Ha

And children of the stick
Ha Ha

We're  falling asleep
Ha Ha

See No Evil Hear No Evil

Artist unknown. Photo taken on taken on 31st October 2011 in Qasr El Aini Street, near AUC,

A case of institutionalised sectarianism?

A week ago I remember thinking, why did they clear away the sit-in? This was a chance for the Coptic community to express its grievances. A few days later, a follow-up protest was organised by the Coptic community resulting in the tragic event of Sunday, a dark day in Egypt's new history.

But as a country in mourning faces a crisis, symptomatic of a deeper running problem, a positive dimension is transpiring. The issue of the unequal treatment of the Coptic community in Egypt is unquestionably becoming a part of the national debate and psyche.

Last Monday, I was watching an interview on ONTV featuring a seasoned journalist called Gamal El-Ghitani, in which he raised critical points. Why did we get to this? What is the problem with building a thousand churches? Why is it that some 600 years or so of Coptic history are not mentioned in Egyptian school books? Why is it that Copts can't reach certain positions in sensitive areas?

They're all questions which point at a structural problem in the system and lead me to ask if Egypt is suffering from institutionalised sectarianism against Copts. While I believe most Egyptians are tolerant and respectful of each other's faiths, the system is somehow enabling the unfair treatment of Copts. The issue can no longer be ignored.

As the political and intellectual elite of Egypt discuss the current crisis and status quo of the Coptic community, I have hope that the matter will seep down further to the masses resulting in a raising of consciousness. I also hope that it will lead to a conclusion where all Egyptians are treated fairly and with dignity in their country of birth, no matter what their religious beliefs. It's a principle that puts some of the fundamental values of Jan 25 to the test.

No to Emergency Law

Protesters were demanding an end to the recently activated emergency law in a protest called in Tahrir on Sep 16th, 2011.

'No to Emergency'

'No to Emergency'

Boy with Body Paint

McDonald's and Revolution Street Art

On a wall near a Downtown street Cafe on 24 September 2011

Take a closer look and you'll notice the aircraft at the end of the arches. 

SCAF is the acronym for the Supreme Council of Armed Forces

Panda near the AUC

Artist unknown. Photo taken on 12 August 2011, on a wall near the American University in Cairo  (AUC)

I first discovered Panda in Tahrir on one of the walls of the Mogama3. Smitten by Panda and following a few more sightings, I decided to make it my mission to locate Panda around the city. 

If you have seen Panda, please post a comment with a location, so that I can take more pictures and document its whereabouts around Cairo. Thank you.