Skip to main content

Could Violence in Egypt Spin Out of Control?

Bassem Sabry writes that he's never been more worried about Egypt since its revolution than he is right now.
A protester who opposes Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi runs after Molotov cocktails burn him during clashes with riot police along a street which leads to the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo's Moqattam district March 22, 2013. Several thousand opponents of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood clashed with supporters of the Islamist group near its headquarters in Cairo on Friday, and at least 40 people were wounded, authorities said. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh  (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMA

My articles over the last two months have been somewhat brushed with an alarmist tone that is characteristically alien to my normally dry writings. But never since February 2011 have I been more genuinely worried about Egypt than I am right now. The reason for my profoundly increased sense of worry is that the potential for a wider outbreak of politically induced violence has become more alarming than ever before.

A few days ago, clashes erupted between protesters, Muslim Brotherhood members and policemen by the Brotherhood’s headquarters atop the Muqattam hill. More than 250 were injured, according to one report, some of whom were grievously wounded. Some of those who came to the protest appeared to have been set on clashing from the start, while others were perhaps drawn into them through the heat of the events. While we’ve become no strangers to images and stories of violence, there was nonetheless something this time that was just more personal in all the violence.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.