Monday’s papers all feature news and analysis regarding the second anniversary of Hosni Mubarak’s downfall on 11 February 2011. However, commemorating the old president’s abdication is no reason for Egypt’s new president to celebrate, as several protest marches to Tahrir Square and the president’s palace are planned for today.
Monday’s newspapers level similar criticisms and accusations against Egypt’s new Islamist president and his police force as those faced by his predecessor.
In privately-owned Al-Watan newspaper: “Today Mubarak’s fate haunts Morsy.” The article mentions that rallies and protest marches will be staged in Cairo and other governorates, while some protesters have been calling for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience against Morsy’s government.
In privately-owned Al-Tahrir newspaper, “Return of protests calling for the resignation of regime.” The article mentions that two protest marches will head to Tahrir Square today from the Mosques of Al-Fatih and Sayeda Zeinab “demanding retribution and the downfall of the regime.”
Privately-owned Al-Shorouk runs a headline reading, “Renewal of calls for deposing the regime: Four protest marches to Tahrir and Ettehadiya Palace.” The paper adds that the central governmental building in Tahrir Square, known as the “Mugamma, has been shut down by protesters … while the Interior Ministry reinforces security by deploying armored personnel carriers” outside the ministry.
The state-owned Al-Gomhurriya newspaper runs its chief headline reading: “Fear and apprehension on the day commemorating the resignation.” Another headline reads: “Tahrir’s Mugamma closed upon the orders of the revolutionaries!” This paper publishes a photo of an elderly man outside the governmental building holding a sign reading, “the closure of the Mugamma hinders the interests of the populace.”
In the privately-owned Sawt al-Umma newspaper: “Protesters raise the slogan ‘if our blood is considered cheap … then down with any president.” This paper also mentions that a popular mock trial will be held in Tahrir Square today, with the expected verdict for Morsy’s effigy being execution by hanging.
The Youm7 newspaper runs a headline reading, “On the second anniversary of Mubarak’s downfall: Poll indicates that the president’s popularity has plummeted to its lowest level in seven months” since Morsy’s election in late June 2012.
Citing the same poll conducted by the local research center Baseera, Al-Shorouk mentions that “the populace’s satisfaction with Morsy’s performance sinks to 53 percent as of the end of January.”
Youm7 mentions that “only 39 percent of the population expressed a willingness to reelect Morsy for another term, in contrast to 50 percent at the beginning of his term.” Citing this poll, Youm7 points out that Morsy’s popularity has plummeted in light of his heavy-handed crackdowns on demonstrations, which have left some 60 protesters dead nationwide since 25 January of this year, along with the curfews and state of emergency imposed on the three Suez Canal cities — Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez. According to this poll, youth expressed the greatest disillusionment with Morsy’s rule.
Al-Gomhurriya runs another article which seems to be an attempt to whitewash the image of Egypt’s police in light of recent allegations of extra-judicial murders, torture, disappearances and mass arrests. “Ministry of Interior: Unrest in Port Said is premeditated,” and “Tear gas canisters were not enough to control the situation” the paper says, while citing the coroner’s office claims that “those recently killed in Port Said were shot dead with live bullets.”
According to Al-Shorouk “Ministry of Interior claims its innocence before the Shura Council [upper house of Parliament] regarding the deaths of [youth activists] Jika and al-Gendy.” The article mentions police officers’ claims that Gaber “Jika” Salah was killed by a locally manufactured weapon — but not one belonging to the police. While Mohamed al-Gendy, they claim, died not of torture — but rather from a car accident.
During this same session, Salafi MPs are reported to have demanded that all police officers be armed with guns “in order to confront thugs.”
In other news, Al-Watan quotes the prominent sociologist Saad Eddin Ibrahim as saying that US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights Michael Posner met with him to discuss the possibility of “early presidential elections” if the Egyptian populace calls for Morsy’s downfall.
According to the article, Posner mentions a change of policy within Barack Obama’s administration toward Morsy’s Muslim Brotherhood, adding that the Obama Administration tentatively supports the policy of early presidential elections if need be.
Egypt’s papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Watan: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Youm7: Daily, privately owned
Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned
Al-Sabah: Daily, privately owned
Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party
Al-Nour: Official paper of the Salafi Nour Party
