Kyle Tansley
After
some of the worst violence Egypt has seen thus far in 2013, 5 warrants have
been issued for the arrests of lead anti-Islamic activists. They’ve been charged with “inciting
aggression” towards the Muslim Brotherhood through the use of social
media. On Friday the 22nd,
several hundred activists attacked the headquarters of The Brotherhood,
intending to destroy the building.
However, they were met with a strong resistance force, including
bus-loads of Brotherhood from other areas.
The violent incident resulted in a possible 100+ injuries on both sides,
products of the guns, knives, and sticks that were used. The fighting only ceased when a substantial
force of riot police were brought in and fired teargas at the crowds.
The
new president of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi, has strong ties to the Muslim
Brotherhood group. In response to this
violence, his party’s prosecutor ordered the arrests of activist leaders; an
action which has sparked some fear in Morsi’s opposition. There has been worry that the new president
is moving towards using his government’s law enforcement for the benefit of his
own party, and for the detriment of his opposition. Calling for the incarceration of anti-Islam
activists by an Islamic president is a rather strong indication of this. This occurrence has made it clear that the
activists are coming from a place of oppression, and violence may be the only
way they can make themselves heard.
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