AUCians Speak on Egypt Post-Morsi

BY MAHMOUD FATHI

Within the first two months of Fall 2013, members of the AUC community have expressed different opinions regarding the Egyptian political and security scenes after July 3, when former President Mohamed Morsi was removed after a year in office.

A report issued by The Democracy Index on October 2, 2013, says students from 24 universities across Egypt have already held a combined 146 organized protest and sit-in, demanding change from the interim government. However, AUC didn’t witness any anti-government student protests.

Hassaballah El Kafrawi, a Political Science Junior, sees AUC as segregated from society. “I personally do not have a clear answer on the matter [removal of former president Morsi], the fair description would be a popular coup. There is no argument that the people supported this coup, making it hard to pinpoint its meaning. But the question remains, will [the army] fulfill those demands [of the people]?” said El Kafrawi.

Mariam Badr, a business administration Senior, sees an improvement in Egypt’s state since the placement of the interim president, Adly Mansour, assumed power. “Egypt post- Morsi is the Egypt we know to a great extent. We have had setbacks in our way to make this nation reach its potential,” she said.

Badr added, “We are taking huge steps forward on [a] daily basis and still more to go on the political dimension.”

Ahmed Yehia, a Political Science Graduating Senior, said, “This might be a sign of faithful support to Egypt’s interim government.”

“I neither trust nor support the military council strictly seen for their impotence in political decision making,” Yehia added.

Following Morsi’s removal, protests broke out throughout Egypt, notably in Rabaah Al-Adawiya Square, to demand the return of the former President. After being warned by the army, the Rabaah protest was dispersed using force during which many pro-Morsy supporters were injured and killed.

After the dispersal, several churches have been burnt, Christians attacked and armed groups have targeted army and police officers.

In El Kafrawi’s opinion, Egyptians will undergo a period of a “harsh police state” with resistance that will be powerful, but disorganized. He added that this would remain to be the case until an organized force offers an alternative.

Egypt has a long way to go before security is resorted to its fullest, said AUC Security Supervisor Ibrahim Idris, adding that a revolution had taken place on June 30, bringing back security to the nation.

“The fact that fear exists at homes and moves a large segment of the population is not one to be ignored. It is however important to acknowledge the clear presence of police on the streets, and at checkpoints [throughout] Egypt,” he said.

Idris said that the police have regained their confidence. He also explained that it is the police’s duty to differentiate between a thug and innocent citizens.

One freshman student, who requested to remain anonymous for the security of himself as well as his family’s, told the Caravan that the very fact that he was unable to attribute his comments to his given name, speaks for the suppression in freedom of speech that he is suffering as an active Egyptian.

“Our family is falsely accused of purveying terrorists,” the source said, adding, “These days you always get this gut feeling you’re being obliged to either speak one opinion or stay silent about the other, and that is an unfortunate reality we’re forced to cope with.”

“I myself got stabbed by armed thugs. It is important to understand that Egypt’s way forward heavily relies on the democratic election of a peaceful president, the participation of the elite in protests concerning citizens of all classes, and the existence of a true sense of security,” the source added.

The source added that upon participating in demonstrations over the past two months, he has witnessed people getting brutally killed and severely wounded.

“We have a theory in our field [Political Science and Mass Communication] called the Spiral of Silence, that suggests that people who perceive themselves to be in the minority on a particular issue will be less likely to speak out,” said Mohamad Hamas Elmasry, assistant professor and graduate director in the department of journalism and mass communication.

“One reason you might have this relative silence is because opposition to the military coup that occurred on July 3 is probably greater in proportion at universities like Cairo University, Al- Azhar or Ain Shams than at AUC,” added Elmasry.