Egypt

Tens of thousands of leftist, liberal and centrist protesters gathered in Tahrir Square on Friday for “The Last Warning” aimed at President Muhammad Morsi of the Brotherhood. Morsi has ruled Egypt for the past year, after winning the presidential election in June of 2012. He has made a series of arrogant and polarizing policy decisions […]

Egypt

Clashes in Egypt during Morsi protests

Juan Cole

Egypt is beset today with dueling large protests for and against President Muhammad Morsi. In some places, as in Alexandria, they turned violent, and in the provinces a number of headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been occupied or burned. I’ll do a summary tonight. Channel 4 News has raw video of clashes

Egypt

Egypt: Morsi Fails to Appease Critics as Violence breaks out in Provinces

Juan Cole

Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi gave a major speech on Wednesday, commemorating his first year in office and attempting to mollify his political opposition, which is planning to try to unseat him with massive street demonstrations on June 30. A defiant Morsi criticized the opposition and the judges and asked that criminal investigation be launched into […]

Egypt

Egypt’s ‘Rebellion’ Movement Plans Protests as Generals Warn they’ll Intervene

Juan Cole

Egypt is facing its severest crisis since the January-February 2011 revolution against dictator Hosni Mubarak as the country moves toward nation-wide protests on June 30. The elected president, Muhammad Morsi, has been extremely destabilizing for Egypt. His high-handed and erratic policies have polarized the country. Even many supporters of political Islam have been put off […]

Egypt

Egypt’s Morsi Provokes Anger, Astonishment with appointment of Governor from former Terrorist Group

Juan Cole

As Egyptians demonstrated against him again on Friday, in preparation for big rallies on June 30, President Muhammad Morsi has shot himself in the foot with a series of ill advised appointments of provincial governors. Morsi continues to demonstrate that he is politically tone deaf and that his decision-making takes place in a small circle […]

Egypt

Egypt’s Morsi Calls for No-Fly Zone over Syria: A step toward regional Sunni-Shiite War?

Juan Cole

Egypt’s President, Muhammad Morsi, called Saturday for a no-fly zone over Syria authorized by the UN Security Council. At the same time, he cut off diplomatic relations with Syria. It was the Arab League demand for a no-fly zone that led to the UNSC resolution on Libya and hence to the overthrow of the Gaddafi […]

Egypt

The New Muslim World: Dictators on Trial

Juan Cole

The Muslim world has now witnessed several instances of a former dictator being exiled under threat of prosecution or actually being forced to appear in court to face charges arising from illegal actions performed while dictator. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia has fled to Jedda, in Saudi Arabia. Sayf al-Din Gaddafi is awaiting […]

Egypt

Egypt: As Mubarak retrial begins, Judge Recuses Self

Juan Cole

Former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was brought to a courtroom on Saturday for the beginning of his retrial on charges of ordering hundreds of peaceful demonstrators killed in January and February 2011 during the revolution against him. The trial was abruptly postponed, however, when Judge Mustafa Hasan Abdullah recused himself. He had been involved in […]

Egypt

Pope Francis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Women’s Equality: Why Must Religion be Patriarchal?

Juan Cole

The selection of the new pope was carried out by a conclave of elderly men, and the only candidates were men. The new pope is a staunch social conservative who opposes women’s ordination as priests and women’s right to control their own bodies and limit family size, key issues for women’s health and well-being. It […]