Agitation has taken a violent turn in Egypt once again spreading from Alexandria to Cairo. A year ago, protesters demanded the removal of President Hosni Mubarak, a tyrant. Now the target is President Mohammed Morsi, belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood. Public anger has escalated throughout the year of Morsi’s regime. The Brotherhood’s headquarters have been stormed and burnt. The Egyptian economy is in the doldrums. GDP growth in Egypt is down to 2.2%. Unemployment is over 13%. Foreign investment and foreign currency reserves are crashing. Fuel supplies are low. Add to this Morsi’s efforts to be all powerful and imposition of curbs on public protest.
The status of women and the minorities has also fuelled anger. Egypt’s new Constitution is based on the Sharia. Islamists pushed it through despite the democratic and liberal opposition as well as by the minorities. The Constitution lays emphasis on morality and tradition. Egypt has the largest Christian community in the Arab-African world. The women organizations have been up in arms against the new dispensation. A secular front led by Mohammed El-Baradai, former Presidential aspirant, Amr Mouasa and the army are together against Morsi’s Egypt. The country has to move towards liberalism and economic recovery. The army has given Morsi’s government just 48 hours to meet the people’s demands. Otherwise, it has threatened to step in. Millions of people have taken to the streets demanding that the Islamists should step down. Resignations have started from the ruling government. The Tamarod campaign against Morsi has gathered increasing momentum.