Nov 27, 2013

In one week, Egypt’s government issued a demonstration law which many see as repressive; approved a decision which allows police on university campuses, angering students; cracked down on demonstrators who were demonstrating against the demonstration law; its 50-member committee initially approved an article in Egypt’s constitution which allows military trial of civilians; arrested Mahmoud el-Khodiery, a well-respected former judge, on allegations of torturing protesters; arrested protesters against military trials; its courts sentenced several young girls to very harsh sentences (the girls included juveniles who were arrested while protesting in Alexandria) with punishments of up to 11 years in jail and indefinite custody in juvenile facilities for those underage defendants — and we are still in the middle of the week.

The Egyptian government seems to be in bad need of public relations training. Not one that focuses only on communications and improving a deservedly bad image, but the kind that genuinely teaches you what to do to actually end up with a good image.

Activists call the new demonstration law “the anti-protest law.” In the absence of an elected parliament, the law was issued by the interim cabinet and includes tight restrictions on protests, marches and public meetings. For instance, it requires protest organizers to notify the police with details of the planned event three days in advance to obtain approval of the Ministry of Interior. Other articles in the law also allow security forces to use water cannons, batons and tear gas to disperse protesters, with a provision to permit use of “escalatory measures” that would include the use of rubber bullets and metal pellets if needed. The law was condemned by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Egyptian civil society while the United States expressed concern that the legislation “does not meet international standards” in a statement issued by the State Department. In response to the outcry against this law, the government initially showed flexibility, saying it would form a “a joint societal committee” to discuss objections to the law, but then several other ministers came out saying that the law would stand as is.

This government is four months old. But does this mean the memory of its members must also be four months old? Questions are arising regarding the political maturity of some of those calling the shots in Egypt. Could they have witnessed President Mohammed Morsi’s removal but then forgotten it? Is it possible that they no longer remember how Mubarak was forced out less than three years ago? Are these the sorts of events which could easily fade in one’s memory? Those in control, or to be more accurate, those who should have been in control but are quickly losing it, seem shockingly to have forgotten.

If the government is betting that millions supported the removal of Morsi and therefore would give it a blank check, it would be making a sad mistake. In fact, it is exactly the same mistake that Morsi committed, costing him his presidency.