7 Feb 2011
Dear Friends,
Yesterday I went to Tahrir square with my whole family, Mom, dad and my two younger sisters.As we approached the square we watched thousands marching towards the square, many of whom carried bags with food for protesters.We got down and marched with them till we reached a long queue of people who were getting inspected by regular youth before entering the square, to make sure no weapons or any harmful material. The military was there as well and checked our ID’s.That day in Tahrir we numbered to at least 2 Million. Just observing the scene there seemed as if everyone had an unspoken determination to resist Mubarak’s” divide and conquer” strategy.Sunday was announced as the day of “martyrs” in commemoration of all the protesters who fell since the start of the revolution.We witnessed the Sunday Coptic Mass and the Muslim Prayer, with both Father and Sheikh sending prayers of blessings for the people’s uprising, and people marching and chanting with the Cross and the Qur’an.Women and girls were hand in hand with men and boys who volunteered to clean up the square and run the field hospital.Perhaps one of the most telling scenes was the marriage ceremony ( niqah) in the middle of the square between two people who allegedly met during the protests. The whole crowd joined in prayers for them. When the new bride spoke she said: “This square has turned into my home and all of you became my family, I will not find a people more precious than all of you to share my marriage happiness with than you”.I never felt safer in a crowd of 2 Million people in my life than yesterday.Sexual harrassment turned sadly into a reality that accompanied any public gathering in Egypt. This is the same Egypt where today I could stand alone in the middle of a crowd with men passing behind and in front of me without having the slightest fear and not even a single gaze or inappropriate remark.A young man who accidentally was pushed slightly against my sister turned around and was extremely apologetic. When a group of us young women stood together ,young men gradually started forming a chain around us to protect us, as the masses of people increased.Abdel-Halim Kandil, a famous political activist and coordinator of the Kefaya political pro-democracy movement, spoke to the crowds yesterday about the process of change, and that as we demand the change of the system we must change as well.This change is already happening….As I’m writing you this update, one of the Satellite TV channels is now posting the picture one by one of each martyrer who were killed in cold blood by the regime of Mubarak,most of them 16 and 17 year old, the youngest being killed is a 10 year old boy with two bullets in his body.Rest in piece my brothers and sisters…HadilP.S: Please feel free to share my updates with my name to your contacts and on your blogs. Many thanks to your messages of support and solidarity and apologies for not being able to respond to each of them yet.
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Salam.
I did not realise you’ve posted this until I posted it too. :D
A good write up isn’t it? :)
Salam AkMaR.
I just posted it a few momemnts ago. It sure is a superb write-up. She’s a talented individual and an strong spirited activist.
Many thanks for this Lwtc247. Beauty often springs up in the most unexpected place and the real voice of the Egyptian people is an inspiration for us all.
Howdo Chuckyman :)
I just hope the valliant protesters don’t tire and have some new torturing scumbag forced upon them (although that’s practcally already happened, what with this this unashamed ‘spymaster’ entitled Omar Suleiman dude)
I’m glad to say that I have not seen signs of that yet. The Egyptian people have shown great imagination as well as courage. By sticking to peaceful protest they have not been easy to portray as extremists. As time progresses it gives the spooks more time to sow the seeds of dissent in their ranks. I have faith in their ability to resist that pressure.
I do so hope you’re right.
I was going to say “The unity amongst the sexes and faiths is quite amazing” but that’s exactly what the faiths should be like. I almost fell for the pervasive programming that tries hard to make people fall into that trap.
Depectons of the unity of faith (and actually the tolerance towards lack of faith/agnosticism) seldom make the airwaaves.
Agreed Lwtc247. That sort of message doesn’t fit with the propaganda the sheeple in the West are supposed to see.
After the recent bombing of the Egyptian Coptic Church hundreds of Muslims turned up at the next service as a sign of solidarity and to provide a human shield. Not a word of that in the propaganda press. Such a shining example of humanity would not fit in with their plans.