This photo series shows a glimpse into two very different parts of Egypt: the bustling city of Cairo and the small village of Belquas. The photographs from Belquas show some of the young people who live in the village, which hosted an open mic series last month brought to them from organizers in Cairo. The photographs from Cairo document the beginning of the infamous sit-in protests in Tahrir Square, which lasted three weeks and ended the first day of Ramadan, August first, when the military police forcibly removed protestors and their camps. Two days later, the country watched the trial of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his sons on television. The military police remain in the Square today to keep protestors from returning.
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- A young boy breakdances during an open mic series in a village called Belqas, nearly three hours north of Cairo. The event was brought to the town by young organizers in Cairo who received grant money to hold open mics across Egypt. The night included poetry, traditional song, and requests for hip-hop music by young boys.
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- Belqas is a small village that home to ancient palaces and villas that were once owned by princes and merchants. Its residents who are known for being warm and welcoming to outsiders. The women of this area, and those from the nearby town of Mansoura in particular, are known for being “the most beautiful women in Egypt.” I heard this several times from people when I mentioned the town of Mansoura and nearby villages.
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- Sahar is 20. She used to wear her hair out but stopped after being admonished by some in her village, which like most of Egypt is predominantly Muslim. She had been studying at American University in Cairo for some time before her father told her it was too far to travel. She now attends a local college. During our visit I heard her argue with two young men about their claim that all Eyptian women want to be married early and have a man take care of them.
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- One of the first things Hedar said to me in English was, “I love you, do you love me?” Many young people in Egypt are eager to practice their English with foreigners, as are adults – many who try to start conversations on the street with the words they know. Hedar worked at the library inside the community center where the open mic series was held. She recited poetry during the event, flirted with a boy she liked, and took photographs with my spare camera.
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- Beginning July 8, or the “Friday of Persistence,” thousands of Egyptians flocked to Tahrir, with hundreds camping out in an act of protest. Traffic was redirected away from the Square, which was blocked off with fencing guarded by activists. The last protestors “sitting-in” were forcibly removed along with their camps on August 1, the first day of Ramadan, by the military.
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- A friend pointed that seeing an Algerian flag in Tahrir is a big deal because relations with Algeria have been very tense in the recent past. Amid growing dissent against him, ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak used a soccer match with Algeria as a political distraction, igniting a nationalistic competitive spirit that turned to rage when Egypt lost a World Cup 2010 qualifying match, leading to riots and the burning of Algerian flags.
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- Ramy Essam performed on July 8 to a feverish crowd who recited his lyrics by heart. During the Revolution movement in the Spring he had become famous by putting anti-Mubarak chants to music. He was one of the people camping out regularly in Tahrir, and when doing so in a prior sit-in in March he was arrested by soldiers along with more than 100 others, and was beaten.
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- An aerial shot of Tahrir on July 8. The lengthy sit-in has caused a rift in the public. Most Egyptians largely support the official demands including: Holding trials for those responsible for killing 850 people during the Revolution; the release of more than 7,000 protestors being held and tried in military courts; and swifter movement toward democratic elections. Public opinion toward the Tahrir campers appears to have shifted in recent days. There’s sympathy regarding the way the army forcibly removed them, but frustration over their continued presence in Tahrir, which blocked traffic – and, some argue, progress.
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- This 15-year-old named Sief ran away from home some time ago and apparently his family doesn’t want him back. He had been coming to Tahrir on his own nearly every day since the spring, where people took him in. He now lives with one of the boys he befriended there. When asked why he kept coming back to Tahrir, he said, “I will until Egypt is free.” When the army marched into Tahrir August 1 and destroyed the tents, he lost his shoes and clothes. He walked the streets the following day wearing large plastic men’s sandals. His friends laughed at him and he joked back.
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- The military did not wait long after afternoon prayers to come into Tahrir August 1 in full force, armed and with tanks. Soldiers blocked off all sides of Tahrir, moved in, dispersed the crowd and knocked down all the tents. Earlier in the day, this area had tents with people sitting, sleeping and talking inside, staying cool from the heat as they fasted. I was inside one when we heard the alarm sounds. People started running with sticks. Kids started piling rocks. But there were so few people left that any efforts to resist were futile. This is the area about an hour later, taken with my phone.
