"I'm not saying Mubarak was good,” Even says, while stroking a pocket-size cross. “But he was right when he warned us against these people. He was right when he locked them away.” (Bohn, 2013 )
Seas of angry faces, furrowed brows, scowling, glaring, chanting, screaming. crowds of people are packed together like sardines, unable to breathe. They work as one, screaming threats and chants against Hosni Mubarak. You see marches and riots happening everywhere you turn. On the rough, dark concrete lay injured, innocent protesters, blood stains coat the ground. Millions of people from different religions, and beliefs join together, gripping signs with the face of their dictatorial President, a blood red X painted across his face. They grip the signs with so much passion, and hate, their hands shake, and knuckles turn white. They stampede as one towards freedom.
You see the people of Egypt, erupting with triumph as the freedom to speak their mind, and have their own beliefs is available to grab, and in this very moment, you believe in miracles. You believe there is hope as you watch Egypt come together, despite everyone's differences, to fight against Mubarak. Then you watch as Egypt's new President, Mohamed Morsi, causes the people who once worked together, to be torn apart based on their differences, and you lose hope so fast, you don't remember you ever had it.
Within Morsi's short time as president, Egypt faced economic issues, energy shortages, lack of security and diplomatic crises. Many of these issues were started by Mubarak within his 29 years in power, which Morsi contributed too, and was blamed for. (Hosni Mubarak Biography, 2014)
On July 3rd, 2013, the Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi lead the removal of president Mohamed Morsi from power and suspended the Egyptian constitution, leaving the military in charge and running Egypt. Many people were shocked by the removal and jailing of Morsi, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. Many people were happy with the removal of Morsi because they didn't believe in the practices of The Muslim Brotherhood such as their support of Sharia law. They could see him abusing power, and trying to manipulate all of Egypt to practice the same religion as him. (Egypt Profile, 2014)
The absence in power after Hosni Mubarak was ousted, left the door wide open for the Muslim Brotherhood to get put into higher political standings as well as put Mohammed Morsi in as a candidate for the election. On June 30th, Morsi was inaugurated as the 5th President of Egypt. He won with 51.73% of total votes which was considered to be a fair vote, and he became the first democratically elected president of Egypt. (Egypt Profile 2014)
Morsi was one of the main leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Islamic political organization whose goal is to instill the Qur'an and Sunnah as the main way of life of the Muslim family, individual, community, and state. The Muslim Brotherhood is now considered a terrorist organization by the Egyptian government. There were many events leading up to this label on the organization. (The Principles of The Muslim Brotherhood, 2010)
“The terrorists tried to ruin my church, my home, my people,” Nagi says, using the edge of her charcoaled sleeve to wipe tears from her eyes. “But God will prevail against the terrorist Muslim Brothers.”(2013, Bohn) Nagi is just one of thousands to be affected by the terrorist acts conducted by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is both extremely angry and humiliated by the ousting of their President Mubarak Morsi.
The Muslim Brotherhood is taking their anger out on the Coptic Christians within Egypt. "Egypt’s Christians, who make up about 10% of the Muslim-majority country, have been caught in the political cross fire and found themselves scapegoats for supporting the military’s ouster of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood."(Bohn, 2013) The Muslim Brotherhood cannot go after the military for Morsi's removal for fear of getting arrested since the military has more power. Because of this, they have turned to blaming the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Though they may not have all been supporters of Morsi, the Coptic Christians in Egypt are not to be blamed for the ousting of Morsi.