Egypt witnessed a major security clampdown as the normally congested streets were quiet on an unprecedented level. Fearing Egypt’s notorious security service, most people opted to stay in their homes. There were calls for a demonstration on this past Friday coinciding with the 27th Climate Conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The world’s eyes were supposed to be fixed on the results of the conference, however the sister of jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has captured everyone’s attention. Abdel Fattah is, according to Egyptian authorities, undergoing “medical intervention” after being on a hunger strike. He is protesting what he feels is his unjust detention of the past three years. This has caused a great deal of embarrassment for the regime of Abdel Fatah Sisi as he was counting on positive press regarding the country’s human right’s record by Egypt’s hosting of the conference.
At the time of publishing this article, the Sisi regime has ordered the detention of approximately 404 citizens on charges related to calling for a protest on November 11th. In addition to that there were hundreds of others whom were arrest from their homes or places of work whom were not yet referred to the state prosecutors office.
Egyptian authorities may have succeeded in preventing popular protests this past Friday, however the reasons that the calls for popular dissent were made are still prevalent and, in most people’s view, increasing.
Economic exclusion and poverty are social time bombs that are ticking in the Arab world’s most populous country.
