Democracy in Egypt

Egypt's Arab Spring is yet ongoing. The protests began in 2011 because of rising food and fuel prices, unemployment for youth in particular, and persistent 'rumours' of corruption. And then of course, social activists and students got involved and the notion of having something approximating a democracy in Egypt rather than an autocracy under military rule seemed appealing and possible, and these new fanciful demands brought out large numbers of optimistic and idealistic young people to occupy central Cairo.

A bemused and certainly unamused government looked on and dispatched the brutal and hated Egyptian police to restore order, while Egypt's heritage was being ransacked, the national museum looted and civic buildings and police bureaus torched and destroyed. When all Egyptians that started it all really wanted was to have their subsidized bread and cooking oils restored to their previous, affordable state. The military stepped in to save the day.

In fact, the economy wasn't all that bad, under President Hosni Mubarak; trade, manufacturing and tourism were doing very well. Unemployment was improving, and prospects for the future looked fairly promising. But the people insisted, and eventually the resolve of the government to face off against popular resistance gave way to surrender. And lo and behold, along came democracy! Egyptians voted for a new government.

And in stepped the Muslim Brotherhood and Mohammad Morsi, confident that they, with the backing of the even more virulently Islamist Salafist party which also picked up a hefty proportion of the popular vote, would bring Egypt to its due dominance in the region and the prosperity that it deserved. Disaffected Egyptians now believe that they gave up a benevolent autocracy for a stern tyranny which denies them a hearing.

"Morsi has been taking unilateral decisions that are shocking for the Egyptian people since he took office. These decisions have been fuelling confrontations between his supporters and opponents."Emad Gad, deputy director, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Cairo

As though to go out of his way to prove his deft hand at restoring trust in a country that has seen its cost of living rise steeply even as its economy has plunged into desperation with steadily rising unemployment, failed tourism, a pull-out of foreign investment and manufacturing, and rising public misery with little end in sight. Compromised even further by rising violent crime and criminal abuse against women in particular.

Mr. Morsi has appointed an Islamist associated with a massacre of tourists at an Egyptian temple as governor of Luxor. In response, the tourism minister, Hisham Zaazou resigned, Egypt's Tourism Federation trade group called the appointment the "death of tourism", and new clashes have erupted in various cities. Mass protects are being planned for the end of the month.

Egyptians feel their president is engaged in increasing the profile of the Muslim Brotherhood and disinterested in reviving the moribund economy.

Adel El-Khayat, a member of the one-time terror group Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya being appointed as governor of Luxor has invoked an uproar of indignation. It was the group that claimed responsibility for the 1997 attack on a Luxor temple and tourist draw that killed 58 foreign visitors and four Egyptians. That the group has since renounced violence is hardly relevant at this juncture.

Road of Sphinxes - Luxor Temple 

 

Opposition groups surrounded a local state council office for the purpose of denying access to the newly appointed governor. Overnight battles erupted between the regime's supporters and its detractors. According to the Freedom and Justice Party, the situation has resulted from an opposition that "adopts violence as their doctrine, having failed to win people's confidence at the ballot box."