As the Syrian civil war is hogging the limelight, the Egyptian crisis has receded into the background. But Egypt is also heading for a civil war. Cairo has recently witnessed serious clashes as the authorities announced the detention of Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam-el-Erian. The arrest was part of a crackdown on the Islamist movement. All hell broke loose on the campus of al-Azhar University. Pro- Brotherhood students smashed windows and covered walls with graffiti calling the army Chief General Abdel Fatlal al-Sisi a dog. Sisi had led the coup overthrowing President Muhammad Morsi. Evidently, Egyptian youth are not against Morsi’s Islamic regime. At institutions of Islamic teaching, they demonstrated supporting Morsi who fell from power in July. It is perhaps his role in overthrowing the tyrant, Hosni Mubarak and the ripples caused by the Tahrir Square agitation which have turned the Egyptian youth against the government installed by the army. It is in contrast with the youth movement in Bangladesh which started in Shahbag to protest against an Islamic Constitution. Besides, the education received at institutions like al-Azhar University has linked Egyptian youth with Islamic ideas.
The army-backed government has long been turning the heat on the Islamic Brotherhood, arresting most Brotherhood leaders. Morsi himself was under house arrest. However, the Opposition against him is extremely powerful as his draconian decree which he later lifted had generated resentment amongst the democratic element and the minorities. The Egyptian polity is now in limbo and uncertainty hangs over the coming elections which are expected to restore stability. Curiously enough, Western powers are backing Morsi’s Islamic politics as they are perhaps more allergic to a military coup.