August 22, 2013

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was released from a Cairo prison today (State Information Service of Egypt).

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was released from Cairo’s Tora prison today. An Egyptian court ordered his release after two years of pre-trial detention on corruption charges. He will be under house arrest pending further investigation of those charges, which allege that Mubarak accepted $11 million in gifts from the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram. Other corruption charges are pending for the ex-president, and he is appealing a conviction for allegedly ordering the deaths of Egyptian protesters in the 2011 uprising that led to his ouster.

Mubarak served as president of Egypt from 1981 to 2011. In January 2011, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets, demanding his resignation. Critics complained that Mubarak’s administration was rife with corruption and had all but crushed civil rights. Protests against his regime became progressively more violent until he was forced to yield power to Egypt’s military in February 2011.

The transition from military to civilian rule was carried out fairly peacefully, and in June 2012, Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi became the first freely elected president of Egypt. Morsi pushed an Islamist agenda strongly favored by the Muslim Brotherhood, sparking widespread protests. Many Egyptians believed that Morsi was more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with the country’s many problems. The lack of public security under Morsi undermined the economy, which remains in a desperate state. More than 1 million people were thrown out of work during his one year in office. Finally, the Egyptian military removed Morsi from the presidency on July 3. On July 26, Morsi was formally charged with espionage and conspiring to carry out “aggressive acts in the country” during the 2011 uprising.

Experts on the domestic situation in Egypt noted today that Mubarak’s release is widely seen as a sign that the revolution of 2011 has come full circle with the army once again firmly in control. The military has imprisoned hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and former President Mohamed Morsi remains in prison.

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

August 19, 2013

The Egyptian government acknowledged today that its security forces had killed Islamist protesters in its custody yesterday. More than 30 protesters died in a prison van as they were being transported to a prison outside Egypt’s capital, Cairo. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the deaths were the consequence of the prisoners’ attempt to escape. The Muslim Brotherhood, however, characterizes the deaths as “assassinations,” claiming the men were tear-gassed and shot through the windows of a locked prison van.

The deaths were the government’s fourth mass killing of civilians since the military removed former President Mohamed Morsi from power on July 3. International affairs experts suggest that the killings are the latest indication that Egypt is careening toward civil war. With neither side willing to back down, there is no obvious political solution in sight. Street battles between Egyptian security forces and Morsi supporters among the Muslim Brotherhood have claimed more than 1,000 lives since August 14.

The Egyptian army removed Morsi from power in the face of massive anti-Morsi protests across the nation. Many Egyptians believed that Morsi was more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with the country’s many problems. The lack of public security under Morsi undermined the economy, which remains in a desperate state. Tourism, Egypt’s biggest industry, has all but dried up since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. More than 1 million people were thrown out of work during Morsi’s one year in office as president.

Egypt's political turmoil began in 2011, when protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square against the government led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. Since then, Egypt has lurched from one political crisis to the next. (© John Moore, Getty Images)

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

August 15, 2013

Egyptian security forces yesterday attacked two encampments in Cairo from which Muslim Brotherhood members have protested the army’s overthrow on July 3 of President Mohamed Morsi. Armored vehicles and bulldozers crashed into the camps through a cloud of tear gas in an attempt to shut down the six-week-long sit-in. In and around the main encampment at Rabaa al-Adawiya, a constant exchange of gunfire, including snipers shooting from rooftops, raged for more than 12 hours. Elsewhere in the city, mobs retaliated against authorities with attacks on government buildings and a dozen police stations, as well as on Coptic Christian churches. At least 640 people were killed, including 43 security personnel and 3 reporters.  The Interior Ministry has confirmed that more than 4,200 others were injured in the melee.

Egypt’s interim prime minister, Hazem Beblawi, speaking last night in a televised address, defended the operation, stating that authorities had no choice but to restore order to the capital. He declared a month-long state of emergency, including nightly curfews.

Anti-government protests have roiled Cairo since January 2011, beginning with demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak, who resigned the following month. Massive anti-government protests prompted the army to remove the next president, Mohamed Morsi, from office this last July. (© John Moore, Getty Images)

Writing on a social networking site, a Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson, Gehad El-Haddad, called on Egyptians across the country to rise up in protest, declaring, “We will push forward until we bring down this military coup,” referring to the ouster of the former president. Yesterday’s attack is the third mass killing of Islamist demonstrators since Morsi’s overthrow.

The Egyptian army removed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, from power in the face of massive anti-Morsi protests across the nation. Many Egyptians believed that Morsi was more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with the country’s many problems. The lack of public security under Morsi undermined the economy, which remains in a desperate state. Tourism, Egypt’s biggest industry, has all but dried up since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. More than 1 million people were thrown out of work during Morsi’s one year in office as president.

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

July 29, 2013

Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, marched today on a military facility in Cairo, in defiance of a warning from the army  to protesters to stay away from military installations. Demanding the reinstatement of deposed President Morsi, several thousand demonstrators left the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque—where the Muslim Brotherhood have been staging a weeks-long vigil—for the Egyptian Army Intelligence headquarters. Earlier in the day, the army issued a statement warning protesters “not to come close to military facilities in general, and the headquarters of military intelligence specifically.”

More than 70 Muslim Brotherhood supporters of the deposed president were killed in clashes with state security forces in Cairo on July 27.  Responding to criticism that security forces had overreacted to the demonstrators, Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy blamed the Brotherhood for the violence: “If you have people shooting each other on both sides then you’re obviously going to have casualties.” Egyptian prosecutors have confirmed that security force members were killed in the clashes and that 73 demonstrators have been arrested on charges including murder.

The latest round of violence began on July 26 when Mohamed Morsi was formally charged with espionage. He was accused of conspiring with Hamas—the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, under Morsi’s direction, allegedly carried out “aggressive acts in the country” during the 2011 uprising against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Morsi and other Muslim Brotherhood leaders are accused of “premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers, and soldiers” after breaking out of a Cairo prison in January 2011.

Before today’s march on the Army Intelligence headquarters, the Muslim Brotherhood announced plans for another demonstration tomorrow, which they described as a “million-man march.” Foreign Minister Fahmy issued a statement in response, “If they decide to pursue violence, then you are looking at a completely different confrontation.” The Egyptian army removed Morsi, Egyptian’s first freely elected president, from power on July 3 after mass anti-Morsi protests across the nation. Many Egyptians believed that Morsi was more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with its many problems.

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

July 8, 2013

Egyptian soldiers fired this morning on members of the Muslim Brotherhood staging a sit-in outside an army barracks in Cairo. At least 51 people were killed. The Brotherhood was protesting the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi, who is believed to be held under arrest within the barracks.  The Brotherhood’s political wing—the Freedom and Justice Party that backed Morsi’s government—urges Egyptians to revolt against “those trying to steal their revolution with tanks.”  Today’s violence follows an incident on July 5 when soldiers fired at protesters at the same location, killing three people and leaving dozens of others wounded.

The army ousted Morsi, an Islamist and Egypt’s first freely elected leader, on July 3 after mass anti-Morsi protests across the nation. Many Egyptians believed that Morsi was more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with its many problems.

Elsewhere in Cairo, the grand sheikh of al-Azhar University—Ahmed al-Tayeb, who is regarded as the highest authority in Sunni Islam—warns today of the danger of civil war. He states that he is going into seclusion until the violence ends.

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

July 3, 2013

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has been removed from office in a military coup. The head of the Egyptian army, General Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, announced today on television that the chief justice of Egypt’s constitutional court has assumed the powers of the presidency. During the announcement, Sisi was flanked by military and religious leaders, both Coptic Christian and Muslim. Anti-Morsi protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square greeted the announcement with enormous cheers.

Earlier in the day, the army deployed armored vehicles through the streets of Cairo, which were clogged with millions of pro- and anti-government protesters waiting to see what action the army would take after its deadline for the embattled president had expired. General Sisi issued the ultimatum on July 1 to Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood backers. He had 48 hours to respond to massive popular protests against his government. Sisi warned that if Morsi failed to heed “the will of the people,” the army would offer its own “road map” for peace.

An hour before that deadline, Morsi posted a Facebook message consenting to a coalition government and an independent committee to propose amendments to the constitution. Opposition leaders dismissed the offer as too little, too late.

Many Egyptians believed that Morsi was more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with its many problems. Television stations belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood organization went off the air immediately after General Sisi’s annoucement.

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

July 2, 2013

Egypt’s army issued an ultimatum yesterday to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood backers that they had 48 hours to respond to massive popular protests against Morsi and his government. If Morsi fails to heed “the will of the people,” the army will offer its own “road map” for peace, warned the head of the Egyptian army, General Abdel Fattah al-Sis.

On June 30, millions of Egyptians rallied nationwide, demanding Morsi’s resignation. Many Egyptians believe that Morsi is more interested in turning Egypt into an Islamist state than in dealing with its many problems. The lack of public security under Morsi has undermined the economy, which is now in a desperate state. Tourism, Egypt’s biggest industry, has all but dried up since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. More than 1 million people have been thrown out of work since Morsi was elected president one year ago. General al-Sis characterized the protests as an “unprecedented” expression of popular anger at Morsi and the Brotherhood. Yesterday, demonstrators attacked the Muslim Brotherhood’s Cairo headquarters, and eight people were killed as the building was ransacked.

Tahrir Square in Cairo, the site of massive demonstrations against the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in January 2011, was jammed again in June and July 2013 by angry protesters demanding the resignation of President Mohamed Morsi. (© John Moore, Getty Images)

Today, Egypt’s foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, submitted his resignation to President Morsi. Amr is the sixth minister to resign over the current political crisis.

Additional World Book articles:

• Tahrir Square
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• Egypt (2011) (a Back in Time article)
• Egypt (2012) (a Back in Time article)

December 11, 2012

Huge crowds gathered in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, for yet another day of demonstrations either for or against the draft constitution referendum scheduled to take place on December 15. Secular groups that oppose the constitution have converged on the presidential palace. Supporters of President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood have taken over Tahrir Square.

The opposition wants the referendum scrapped, arguing that the constitution was drafted by an assembly dominated by Morsi’s Islamist allies, who seek to impose an Islamic agenda, even Shari’ah law, on Egypt. In a statement issued after talks with Morsi’s representatives on December 9, the opposition National Salvation Front announced that it refuses to recognizes the draft constitution “because it does not represent the Egyptian people. . . . We reject the referendum which will certainly lead to more division and sedition.”

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians protested against the government of President Hosni Mubarak in January 2011, leading to his resignation in February. The protests in 2012 were triggered by the policies of the new president, Mohamed Morsi, who was elected in June. (© John Moore, Getty Images)

According to experts on domestic Egyptian politics, the pro-Morsi demonstrators have formed an umbrella group calling itself the Alliance of Islamist Forces, which is made of Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups. Although Morsi canceled his decree of November 22 that stripped the judiciary of any right to challenge his decisions, he remains adamant that the referendum on the new constitution will take place as planned on December 15. He has ordered in the military to maintain security and to protect state institutions, giving army personnel the power to arrest civilians as they see fit.

Additional World Book articles:

• Egypt 2011 (a Back in Time article)
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)

November 21, 2012

A bomb explosion aboard a crowded bus left 21 people injured in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial capital, and 11 people were killed by Israeli missiles in Gaza City today in the continuing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip. At least 150 Palestinians and 5 Israelis have died so far in the latest flare-up between the Israelis and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which began eight days ago. On November 14, Israel responded to rocket fire from Gaza with an air strike that killed the head of the military wing of Hamas.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Cairo, Egypt, today to discuss a possible peace plan with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the only world leader with effective lines of communication to both Israel and Hamas. Earlier in the day, Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were in the West Bank meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The secretary of state met yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip is a piece of land administered by Palestinians. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, where Egypt and Israel meet. (World Book map)

In Iran’s capital, Tehran, the speaker of the Iranian parliament announced today that his country was “proud” to be providing assistance “both financial and military” to Hamas-controlled Gaza. Iran is known to supply Hamas with the rockets that the Islamist militant organization regularly lobs into Israel.

Additional World Book articles:

• Egypt 2011 (a Back in Time article)
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
• A Special Day in Israel (a special report)

July 10, 2012

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi briefly reconvened parliament today in defiance of that country’s supreme court and powerful ruling military council. Morsi’s action intensified the power struggle between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political movement that dominates Egypt’s first freely elected civilian government. Islamists advocate Islamic political rule, which usually involves the imposition of Shari`ah law, the moral and legal code of Islam. During the parliamentary session, members approved a proposal to seek legal advice on an order by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) in June to dissolve parliament. That order followed a decision by the supreme court that parliamentary elections held in 2011 had been unconstitutional.

The SCAF has ruled Egypt since the 2011 revolution that ended the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak. In parliamentary elections held in late 2011, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of the Brotherhood, won the largest number of seats. On June 24, Morsi, the FJP’s candidate, was declared the winner in presidential elections. Two days before the June 17 presidential election, however, Egypt’s supreme court–stacked with Mubarak-era members–ruled that the parliamentary elections had been unconstitutional. The decision effectively handed over all legislative power to the SCAF. Then, just as the presidential election polls were closing on June 17, the SCAF issued a declaration granting itself sweeping new powers. While the council declared that it would turn over power to the newly elected president, it stripped the office of any authority over the army. It also gave itself control over the budget and the members of a group writing a new, permanent constitution.

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians protest against the government of President Hosni Mubarak in January 2011. The sometimes violent demonstrations led to Mubarak’s resignation in February. (© John Moore, Getty Images)

On July 8, President Morsi called on parliament to reconvene. The next day, the supreme court rejected that decree, insisting that its earlier ruling on the unconstitutionality of the parliamentary elections was binding. President Morsi, in turn, insisted that the parliamentary session had not violated the court’s decision. In a statement, FJP officials said parliament had acted only to approve a request by the speaker asking for suggestions about how to “implement the court’s decision.”

Additional World Book articles:

• Egypt 2011 (a Back in Time article)
• The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)