As all Egyptians are celebrating today, Monday, the 10th anniversary of the January Revolution. SEE News interviewed one of its participants who took part in planning for that historic day and now is one of its politics' makers.
Tarek El Khouly was born in September, 1985. He took part in the January Revolution which toppled late president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak and later took part in the June 30 Revolution in 2013 which toppled late Mohamed Morsi.
In the following lines, El-Khouly will reveals facts that all Egyptians must know about the Revolution, its important stages and players.
Did you take part in demonstration of 2011 as a member of 6th April?
Yes. I took part in the January 25th revolution. At that time, I was a member of 6 April Movement and in charge of the popular work activity.
When and why did you defect from the movement?
A few days before the revolution erupted, I was planning to turn against the 6 April Movement’s leaders but my plans were delayed because of the revolution. Then, in April 2011, I defected from the Movement. I decided to leave the Movement even before the Movement faced accusations of some orientations. I held a press conference in front of the Journalists’ Syndicate and declared my defection from the Movement and the establishment of a new Front.
I joined the Movement in 2010.
I completely defected from the Movement during the era of the Muslim Brotherhood because the Movement at that time attracted and welcomed membership of many of the Brotherhood. Also, because the Movement had allied with the Brotherhood at that time and I did not like such orientation.
What are the most important factions that took part in the January Revolution?
Unfortunately, some movements and groups that took part in the revolution thought that they were owners and guardians of the revolution. Others monopolized the revolution.
In the meantime, others believed the revolution was erupted for domestic reasons only. Thus, I believe that the goal is not about the revolution, but about our homeland and its interests.
Monopolization is against the revolution’s principles and contradicts all democratic theories.
I believe that revolutions should not ruin states. Some regional countries were collapsed and suffered from chaos. I’m against revolutions in non-state countries that revolutions which lead to rein homelands. Revolutions must lead to improvements and progress on various levels; economic, political and social.
I can say that the social media platforms played a significant role in the January Revolution. They succeeded to reach all sects of the Egyptian people, most notably the youth and the middle class. The Youth were the motor of the revolution who mobilized for the protests.
What’re the differences between January and June revolutions?
The January Revolution called for “Bread, Freedom and Social Justice,” while the June Revolution aimed at preserving the identity of the Egyptian state. The two revolutions are completing each other.
The January Revolution was kidnapped by the terrorist group of the Muslim Brotherhood. Then, the June Revolution corrected that situation and freed Egypt from its kidnappers.
Did the Muslim Brotherhood participate in the January Revolution?
The Muslim Brotherhood group is used to lie to people. The group’s history proves all its crimes and violence. The group claims that it is a pillar of the January Revolution, but the truth is that they are not.
On January 24, 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood group released a statement rejecting to participate in the protests scheduled on January 25th. The group described the protests on January 25, 2011, as calls for chaos.
Following the success of the protests to reach and sit in at Tahrir Square, the terrorist group decided to announce its participation in the revolution.
On January 28th, the MB decided to take part in the protests so that it could kidnap the revolution from its original owners. From that moment, the group decided to exploit the revolution to seize the rule.
Why do you believe that it was good for the Egyptian people to be ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood for one year?
I thank God that the Muslim Brotherhood ruled Egypt for a period of time so that the Egyptian people could see how that group was bad. This group is only mastering lies, hypocrisy and allegations.
The MB has never been a national faction because the group has never believed in the national state. They do not care about the homeland as they don’t belong to the Egyptian identity. In other words, the group seeks only dominance. It aimed to control Egypt and the region.
In your opinion, Did January Revolution succeed to achieve its goals?
I believe that it is so early to decide whether the revolution succeeded or failed. We are still in the middle of the road as all of the revolution’s goals have not completely accomplished. We are still working on that and successfully made a change.
We still so much work to do as many political, economic and social goals have not been achieved yet.
What is the most important stage of the revolution?
The first 18 days are the most important stage in the revolution’s path. During those 18 days, the revolution witnessed no disputes among its participants and partners. Later, the MB began to achieve its plot and dominate the political arena, most importantly the House of Representatives.
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