• About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Sitemap
  • Write For Us
Friday, March 5, 2021
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
  • Covid-19
  • News
    • All
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • World
    DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

    DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

    US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

    US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

    California school reopening plan gets final OK, though some lawmakers wanted more

    California school reopening plan gets final OK, though some lawmakers wanted more

    With Claire Williams gone, what next for women in Formula One?

    With Claire Williams gone, what next for women in Formula One?

    Up to 96 Percent of COVID Patients Have This Lasting Complication, Study Says

    Up to 96 Percent of COVID Patients Have This Lasting Complication, Study Says

    Scott Morrison holds a vial of AstraZeneca vaccine (file image)

    AstraZeneca vaccines ready for rollout as Australia fast-tracks modified jabs

    Andrew Cuomo's actions show failure to exercise 'the necessary self-control', Democrat lawmaker says

    Andrew Cuomo’s actions show failure to exercise ‘the necessary self-control’, Democrat lawmaker says

    Dembele, Pique 8/10 as Barcelona rally to reach Copa del Rey final

    Dembele, Pique 8/10 as Barcelona rally to reach Copa del Rey final

    A quote from the lawsuit, which claims that when students were critical of a professor's alleged misconduct the university ignored or silenced them. - CREDIT ILLINOIS TIMES

    U of I sued over sexual misconduct

    Rishi Sunak, Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking in the House of Commons Wednesday. Seated behind him is Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

    Britain Announces Relief Programs as Economy Slowly Reopens: Live Updates

  • Science & Tech
    • All
    • Mobile
    Google is policing itself on privacy because it knows it has to | Engadget

    Google is policing itself on privacy because it knows it has to | Engadget

    Reddit Rolls Out Green Indicator Dots to Notify People When You're Online

    Reddit Rolls Out Green Indicator Dots to Notify People When You’re Online

    Best Cheap Wireless Keyboard Deals for March 2021 | Digital Trends

    Best Cheap Wireless Keyboard Deals for March 2021 | Digital Trends

    6 steps to build a data-driven company, according to experts

    6 steps to build a data-driven company, according to experts

    Xiaomi Mi 11 back against floor

    Xiaomi, not Samsung or Apple, is taking advantage of Huawei’s woes in Europe

    'DarkModeBuddy' is a new Mac app for automating Dark Mode switching based on ambient light - 9to5Mac

    ‘DarkModeBuddy’ is a new Mac app for automating Dark Mode switching based on ambient light – 9to5Mac

    A powerline tower in a grassy field.

    Hackers tied to Russia’s GRU targeted the US grid for years

    Microsoft’s Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows includes touch controls, gyro, and more

    Microsoft’s Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows includes touch controls, gyro, and more

    FDA advisors endorse Janssen's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine

    FDA advisors endorse Janssen’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine

    Facebook apologizes for 'mistake' in threatening to ban 81-year-old woolen pig knitter for hate speech

    Facebook apologizes for ‘mistake’ in threatening to ban 81-year-old woolen pig knitter for hate speech

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    An "emotional" moment at an NSC meeting shows why withdrawing from Afghanistan is so hard

    An “emotional” moment at an NSC meeting shows why withdrawing from Afghanistan is so hard

    What’s playing at the drive-in: 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' 'Coming 2 America' and more

    What’s playing at the drive-in: ‘Raya and the Last Dragon,’ ‘Coming 2 America’ and more

    Rickey Meredith presents his 70s Solo Acoustic Show at the Slauterhouse Brewing Company in Auburn this Sunday afternoon.

    March is on

    Elizabeth Olsen and Kathryn Hahn in Disney+'s 'WandaVision' (Courtesy of Marvel Studios).

    With ‘WandaVision’ and ‘The Mandalorian,’ Disney+ has found its magic spell

    Review: Messy but moving, 'Boogie' puts an Asian American basketball player front and center

    Review: Messy but moving, ‘Boogie’ puts an Asian American basketball player front and center

    Dua Lipa is pop's new superstar. She's also a bit of a mystery

    Dua Lipa is pop’s new superstar. She’s also a bit of a mystery

    Cars lined up in late February at a mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

    A Welcome Logistical Challenge for States as More Vaccine Arrives

    Texas, Mississippi end mask mandates; Senate taking up stimulus bill, $1,400 checks: Live COVID-19 updates

    Texas, Mississippi end mask mandates; Senate taking up stimulus bill, $1,400 checks: Live COVID-19 updates

    How Did Every Buzzy Film Become ‘The Movie We Need Right

    How Did Every Buzzy Film Become ‘The Movie We Need Right Now’?

    David Crosby on dinner with Joni, Phoebe Bridgers and the 50th anniversary of his haunted solo debut

    David Crosby on dinner with Joni, Phoebe Bridgers and the 50th anniversary of his haunted solo debut

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    The beer brand is celebrating the launch of its new Pineapple Lemonade Naturdays beer with the daydream-worthy prize.

    Natural Light offering spring break trip to Florida island: ‘Vacation of a lifetime’

    Apollo Global confident in return of business conventions as it strikes deal with Las Vegas Sands

    Apollo Global confident in return of business conventions as it strikes deal with Las Vegas Sands

    product image

    Glossier’s Iconic Pink Pouch Got an Upgrade

    Beverage consumers increasingly health-conscious says research

    Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A.

    Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A.

    Making sacrifices is a requirement for startup success. Yet, it’s vital to make sure you’re not making sacrifices to a lost cause. Validate your ideas quickly and kill the unsuccessful ones decisively to free up resources for new, better ideas.

    What Is Sacrifice About In The Early Startup Stages?

    British Airways is now offering Covid-19 test kits (pictured) for its customers for just £33, far below the regular price tag of £100-plus

    British Airways launches rapid Covid-19 test kits that cost just £33

    The Very Tactical Ascent of Givenchy Designer Matthew Williams

    The Very Tactical Ascent of Givenchy Designer Matthew Williams

    The Tomato Sandwich Doesn't Deserve the Hate

    The Tomato Sandwich Doesn’t Deserve the Hate

    Spoon By H, a Korean restaurant and café closed its doors on Saturday, Feb. 27, after it shared Instagram posts detailing its struggles with fighting refund requests it deemed fraudulent. (Google Maps)

    Restaurants are reportedly being hurt by refund request scams

34 °f
Chicago
33 ° Sat
35 ° Sun
48 ° Mon
50 ° Tue
No Result
View All Result
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Ten years ago I watched as protesters toppled Egypt’s brutal regime. Now their hopes of a new era of freedom lie in tatters

by Staff Writer
February 11, 2021
in News
Reading Time: 4min read
0
CNN's Anderson Cooper, Hala Gorani and Ben Wedeman anchored shows from Cairo during the Arab Spring in 2011.
492
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


A few days after the revolutionary high of the 2011 anti-regime protests in Cairo, demanding the resignation of then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the mood had shifted.

Related posts

DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

March 5, 2021
US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

March 5, 2021

Pro-government thugs were unleashed into the crowds. They started targeting demonstrators, journalists covering the events, and Westerners. Some of them had entered our hotel.

We were told to pack our things, cram into cars and drive from the Hilton, overlooking Tahrir Square, to a relatively safer hotel a few kilometers away.

I shared a car with cameraman Joe Duran, who sat in the passenger seat, and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in the back seat.

On the 6th October Bridge, a mob forced our taxi to stop, and encircled us. They smashed the windows. They threw rocks into the car. The driver, surrounded by the violent attackers, appeared to freeze.

In Arabic, I remember saying: “I will give you $500 for the windows if you keep going.” I plucked that figure out of thin air. I still don’t know why that number in particular came to my mind. When he drove off, I thought we were safe.

We pulled into the entrance of the Marriott in our shattered car. Dazed, we made our way into the lobby and registered at the front desk.

Soon after, the New York Times columnist Nick Kristof told me some journalists were changing the names they checked in with, so that any thugs coming into the hotel demanding guest lists wouldn’t know which rooms the foreign press were in.

My name is Arabic anyway, I thought, so I should be fine. “Does it say CNN anywhere on your form?” I remember Kristof asking me. I wasn’t sure, but I decided to risk it. No point in lingering too long at the reception desk.

CNN's Anderson Cooper, Hala Gorani and Ben Wedeman anchored shows from Cairo during the Arab Spring in 2011.

That night, we broadcast CNN’s special coverage from the floor of a hotel room. I remember thinking it looked like a hostage video. We would have many more nights like this, including a particularly tense evening barricaded in the CNN Cairo bureau, a sofa wedging the door shut.

I anchored hours of live coverage with our then bureau chief, the legendary Ben Wedeman, and Cooper. We sat huddled on camera equipment boxes, illuminated with as weak a light on our faces as possible, since the offices needed to look unoccupied from the outside.

Hopes for democracy

The government’s pushback against the uprising lasted several days.

The regime and its supporters tried to beat down the popular movement, but the army was not siding with Mubarak. As had been the case for decades in Egypt, it was ultimately the generals that held the reins of power. When they dropped Mubarak, we all knew he wouldn’t last long.

Massive crowds throng Cairo's Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring in February 2011.Massive crowds throng Cairo's Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring in February 2011.

On February 11, 2011, 17 days after the start of the protests, it was over: Hosni Mubarak stepped down. This would mark the beginning of a new era; the hope was that decades of nepotism, corruption, police brutality and repression would give way to something resembling democracy.

A few years later, I covered the 2012 Egyptian presidential election, which led to the victory of a Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi.

But, ultimately, a revived military would crush the Islamists in 2013 and bring the army back to power. They’d been there all along, tolerating what turned out to be only a brief experiment with democracy.

Lost — crushed even — in this tragic story are the original protesters, who dreamed of a democracy that would represent them.

Optimism crushed

In the first few weeks of the uprising, journalists like us shared in their optimism: Could this be really the moment the Arab world would, slowly and painfully, evolve into a system that serves its own people, rather than the unelected autocrats who had drained their countries dry for decades?

Ten years ago, we allowed ourselves to believe it.

Today, many of those who were on the frontlines of the protests are exiled, imprisoned, or worse.

Elsewhere in the region, there were much more tragic outcomes.

In Syria, the regime crushed its own citizens’ cry for democracy with such brutality that peaceful protesters were quickly replaced by extremist rebels, fighting a government backed by outside forces for control of a shattered land.

Today, those of us who covered Egypt in 2011 still feel the intense emotion of those early days deeply.

There were some scary moments but the historic significance of the events we were documenting acted as rocket fuel as we ran from mobs and hunkered down in hotel rooms.

But for the revolutionaries in Egypt and beyond, it wasn’t meant to be.

The Arab world, in many ways worse off than before the Arab Spring, will have to wait for another generation to demand freedom from their leaders. And one can only hope that this time, they will be victorious, if only so that the sacrifices of those who came before them will not have been in vain.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the year Mohamed Morsi was elected. It was 2012.



Source by rss.cnn.com

Tags: middleeastTen years ago I watched as protesters toppled Egypt's brutal regime. Now their hopes of a new era of freedom lie in tatters - CNN
Share197Tweet123Share49
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Van Morrison teams with Eric Clapton for anti-lockdown song

Van Morrison teams with Eric Clapton for anti-lockdown song

December 19, 2020
Sen. Rand Paul's ‘Festivus Report’ claims $54B in tax dollars was 'totally wasted'

Sen. Rand Paul’s ‘Festivus Report’ claims $54B in tax dollars was ‘totally wasted’

December 23, 2020
'Zombie' greenhouse gas lurks in permafrost beneath the Arctic Ocean

‘Zombie’ greenhouse gas lurks in permafrost beneath the Arctic Ocean

December 24, 2020
DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

0
Fact check: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would defer his annual raise

Fact check: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would defer his annual raise

0
Swedish government sidelines epidemiologist who steered country's no lockdown experiment as deaths rise

Swedish government sidelines epidemiologist who steered country’s no lockdown experiment as deaths rise

0
DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

March 5, 2021
US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

March 5, 2021
A vendor displaying hydroxychloroquine tablets at a pharmacy.

How Brazil gambled on unproven drugs to fight Covid-19

March 5, 2021
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine

Copyright © 2020 Dailyillinois.com.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Sitemap
  • Write For Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us Page
  • Contact
  • DMCA Policy
  • Home 1
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit, Guest Post, Write For Us and Become a Contributor
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2020 Dailyillinois.com.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.