a million man march in Egypt


WHY?

Torture is an endemic problem in Egypt and ending police abuse has been a driving element behind the massive popular demonstrations that swept Egypt over the past week, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Prosecuting torture and ending the emergency laws that enable a culture of impunity for the security forces should be a priority for the Egyptian government, Human Rights Watch said.

The 95-page report, “‘Work on Him Until He Confesses’: Impunity for Torture in Egypt,” documents how President Hosni Mubarak’s government implicitly condones police abuse by failing to ensure that law enforcement officials accused of torture are investigated and criminally prosecuted, leaving victims without a remedy.

“Egyptians deserve a clean break from the incredibly entrenched practice of torture,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. “The Egyptian government’s foul record on this issue is a huge part of what is still bringing crowds onto the streets today.”

Read more HUMAN RIGHT WATCH


The BBC’s Tim Willcox describes the protesters’ plans

Egyptian protesters are gathering for a massive rally in Cairo as they step up their efforts to force President Hosni Mubarak from power.


REUTERS

Anti-Mubarak reformists and opposition figures hoped one million Egyptians would join the biggest protest to mark an uprising which erupted a week ago to force Mubarak to step down.


A protester reaches out as a soldier holds a child during a demonstration in Cairo

A protester reaches out as a soldier holds a child during a demonstration in Cairo January 29, 2011. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

 

UPDATE PICTURE

Tahrir Square Cairo by reuters

Egyptians rally at Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo February 1, 2011. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

About 2 million people in and around the square….

 

 

13 thoughts on “a million man march in Egypt”

  1. But…the thing is no one really knows what after Mubarak, it might turn even worse. There seem to be no one really good leader in sight for Egypt at the moment. But this is the chance for change so let’s hope it will be for better.

    Reply
    • Long time no see!
      Nobody knows what’s after this. I’m sure the leader is found when the situation is stable.
      I don’t understand why M didn’t speak with people in the first hand. Why didn’t he had dialogue? He was just standing like a cold icicle without any empathy…
      I’m afraid people like Mubarak!!!

      Reply
  2. It is shocking that most of us outside of Egypt took no notice of the cruelty of the Mubarak-led government until this protest. They are 100% right to protest, and I hope they get the freedom and rights they deserve.

    Reply
    • We lived there two years and we knew all the time this will happen – it was only a question when.
      People have had enough. They want to feel free. They don’t want to get jailed without any reason, any trial.
      It’s a small elite of people who own everything in Egypt and most of the people are very poor….

      Reply
    • Ei nakojaan ymmarra. Suomen kielisella blogilla just kerroin mita kuultiin tutuilta Egyptin tilanteesta.
      Jos Mubarak ei luovuta tulee sekasorto olemaan valtava. Ruoka, bensa, raha lopussa. Tahan pisteeseen asti venyttely johdolta osoittaa ylimielisyytta ja
      tyhmyytta.
      ElBaradei on saanut puheellaan pidettya ihmiset Tahrir aukiolla…mutta kuinka kauan ihmiset pysyvat rauhallisina…

      Reply
  3. Here in the states, I am disappointed that our government has been an ally in some ways to Mubarak. Not only did we turn our backs on the torture and interrogation techniques being used there, we actually took interest in what information might have been gathered by such unethical techniques!

    Reply
    • There’s a lot of money and power mixed with politics, wars….
      I watched this morning how Omar Sharif, actor, said how proud he is of Egyptian youth.
      Is Mubarak waiting somebody to kill him before he gives up…I just wonder….

      Reply

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