Human rights in spotlight as Egypt's revolution anniversary nears
In the run-up to the anniversary of the January 25 revolution that led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's comments on human rights at a youth forum in Sharm El Sheikh are met with a backlash from activists on social media.
Jan. 25 marks 11 years to the day when thousands of Egyptians marched to Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square to demand "Bread, Freedom and Social Justice!" Little did the anti-government protesters know then that it was to be the start of a mass uprising that 18 days later would lead to the overthrow of longtime President Hosni Mubarak.
Eleven years on, Egyptians find their country still in the tight grip of the military. Many complain that the revolutionary goals of "bread, freedom and social justice" are today even further from reach than they were on that fateful day more than a decade ago. For the Tahrir activists, the anniversary of the Jan. 25, 2011, revolution is a day to reminisce about the tumultuous events that have taken place in their country since and to look ahead to what many of them say is "an uncertain future."
Just a week before the 11th anniversary of the Jan. 25 uprising, the Arabic hashtag #Erhal_ya Sisi (#Leave_Sisi) was trending on Egyptian social media. The hashtag was created in response to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's pledges to step down immediately if Egyptians asked him to do so.
Sisi made the vow after being challenged by foreign journalists on Egypt's human rights situation at a UN Human Rights Council simulation session held on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum (WYF). The forum, which takes place annually in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, is "a platform giving youth a chance to engage with policymakers," according to the WYF's official Facebook page.
