Port Said - City of Resisitance

Press 'captions' for English subtitles.

Video by Simon Hanna for Ahram Online. Still photography by Mohamed Nada.

Music by Port Said's El Tanbura.

Egypt's revolutionary graffiti returns

Revolutionary artists cover the walls of Mohamed Mahmoud St, Tahrir, in graffiti, just days after the famous street art was wiped off by authorities.

Mohamed Mahmoud St, the scene of 5 days of deadly clashes in November 2011, is now seen as one of the focal points of the revolution. Graffiti on it's walls has been wiped off before but each time it returns with new ideas - and the targets of the art are as fluid as Egypt's political situation.

The new artworks still focus on the martyrs of Egypt's uprising, but recently elected president Mohamed Morsi is now targeted on a number of pieces. Previously much of the graffiti was against remnants of the old regime and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, who officially stepped away from power on July 1st.

August 24th - The anti-ikhwan 'revolution'

I want to support and partake in opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood and Mohamed Morsi. They don't share my vision for Egypt, and they have colluded with the military (and possibly the US) to derail the revolution.

When I went to the anti ikhwan protest (or 'revolution as some had dubbed it) in Medinet Nasr yesterday, I went with an open mind. Yes, the protest had been called for by the likes of Tawfik Okasha, but this seemed to be different. It wasn't a protest in support SCAF or the old regime, as other protests in Medinet Nasr had been, this was specifically to voice anger towards the ikhwan.

In a democratic country, vocal opposition and constant pressure is vital. To hell with just sitting idly by and waiting and 'lazem nedelhom forsa' and all that nonsense. I disagree with those that say that now is not the time for demonstrating, that we should give them time.

When I got to the protest there were familiar sights - Egyptians from all ages, from both sexes and religions, just normal people, with home made signs. It looked, at first, a lot like many of the protests I've attended over the last year and a half.

But there were differences, and the longer I stayed there the more pronounced they became.

More than half of the assembled protesters spent their time quietly sitting in the shade away from the action rather than coming out and chanting or actively taking part. All the chants were recycled from revolutionary chants with certain words replaced. I heard not a single new chant. I saw none of the humour that defined our revolution. I saw none of the passion (although some individuals were getting hysterical, calling for Okasha to get back on TV, or ranting about 9/11 conspiracy theories).

I began to wonder why.

In my opinion, the primary difference is that this was a protest borne out of fear. These are the people who have been whipped up into a terrified frenzy over the ikhwan, and their entire raison d'etre seemed to be anti-ikhwan. Devoid of vision, this is just anti-something, it's not pro- a better alternative. This is not the basis for a political movement.

When we took to the streets from Jan25 (and before and after) we were dreaming. We had lofty ideals of freedom, social justice, genuine democracy, human dignity. We were willing to die for these ideals, and many did. During the battle of the camel on Feb 2nd that was what got us through, that was what made us survive and win this 24 hour battle.

If our only reason for starting the revolution was cos we hated mubarak, we probably would have lost hope and fled.

People were holding up posters of Tantawi and Omar Sulleiman. Badges on sale there were of Tantawi, Shafiq, Suleiman, Okasha and even Mubarak himself. These are not people that were full of hope for a new Egypt, these were not people that were trying to bring about a better country for everyone, these are people who are scared, and in their fear they want their strong dictator figures to protect them from the ikhwan, irrespective of the crimes of those figures. These are not people who have realised their own power, and instead feel weak and afraid and want someone else to take care of them.

I'm all for opposing the ikhwan, and opposing Morsi. But I want to strive for something better. This protest yesterday had fear as it's primary driving force. It lacked ideals, it lacked vision, and it lacked hope.

And this is why half the group were just sitting in the shade.

Mursi victorious, Tahrir jubilant

Tahrir Square, packed full of supporters of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi, erupts into wild celebrations as the official results of the presidential runoff are announced.

Morsi beat his rival Ahmed Shafiq and will be declared the next president of Egypt.

'Mobtiloon' campaigners call on Egyptians to spoil their ballots

As Egyptians head to the polls in the presidential runoff to choose Ahmed Shafiq or Mohamed Morsi, a group of activists are calling on the electorate to spoil their ballots.

Brotherhood block parliament protest

Thousands of demonstrators demanding an end to military rule were blocked on Tuesday by members of the Muslim Brotherhood from reaching parliament.

The protesters set off from the sit-in outside the state television building and marched through Tahrir and the streets of downtown Cairo, all the while growing in number.

By the time the demonstrators reached parliament the march consisted of several thousand chanting against military rule.

The parliament building is blocked on one side by a concrete wall and a strong police presence. On the other side, it was members of the Muslim Brotherhood who were blocking the way. Demonstrators chanted "down with the Brotherhood" and accused the Islamic group of selling out the revolution.

The Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice party, recently secured the biggest share of seats in parliament.

Muslim Brotherhood celebrate Parliament opening

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood gathered at Egypt's parliament building as newly elected body opened for its first session. The political wing of the brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party, secured around 45% of the seats in the first post-Mubarak parliament.


Other groups gathered around the parliament today, including groups calling for the elected assembly to realise the demands of the revolution which began a year ago this week.


Security was tight around the area, various different marches including by workers, artists, families of the martyrs and the 'no to military trials' campaign all headed towards parliament.

On the Campaign Trail: The Revolution Continues in Giza

As Egypt's parliamentary elections enters the second round, campaigning is in full swing. One coalition called The Revolution Continues are hoping to make gains in the governorate of Giza. 

Egypt Votes, Tahrir Split

Egyptians head to the polls for a historic occasion - the first parliamentary elections since former President Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a mass uprising in January and February.

Tahrir sends clear warning to military council

A mass demonstration in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square delivers a strong message to the ruling military council.

Protesters demanded that the military transfer power to a civilian president by April 2012, and rejected a document put forward of 'supra constitutional principles' which could protect the military's privileges. 

Thousands rally in Alexandria as part of nationwide Islamist demonstrations in Egypt

Despite being portrayed as a day of unity between Islamists and liberal groups, Friday's protests in Alexandria - which attracted tens of thousands - saw divisions between members of the liberal 6th April group and members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists.