More protests erupt in Egypt

Wednesday, Jan. 25 marked the first  year anniversary of the revolution that ousted the former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square in mixed celebration and protest.

A year ago protests broke out in Egypt as part of an uprising against the autocratic rule of its President Hosni Mubarak – a regime that lasted 30-years and ended when Mubarak resigned on Feb. 11 2011 after 18 days of protests. Now a new milestone has been reached, as the "state of emergency" that had been in place since 1981, and which justified the regime's draconian legal system, has been partially rescinded.

The Egypt uprising was a major event in the Arab Spring uprisings, which began in Tunisia and then spread across the Middle East and North Africa – including Libya, Syria and Yemen.

"Everyone should know that the revolution, demonstrations and protests are not an end in themselves, but are ways to effect radical, categorical change in the system," said a statement from the Muslim Brotherhood, a major Egyptian political party banned under the Mubarak regime.

"We call upon the people to remain vigilant [...] in order to maintain this peaceful revolutionary legitimacy until this goal is achieved."

In opposition to the military rulers, activists in Egypt used the anniversary to organize demonstrations – stating the military is hindering any real democratic change.

In response to the planned mass protests, the military council had announced on Jan. 24 that they would lift the decades old state of emergency the country had been under since 1981, which would limit the government's ability to conduct extra-judicial arrests and detentions. However, the military council will leave in place a clause where the laws still apply in cases of what they have deemed "thuggery", though no definition of "thuggery" has been offered – which has lead to charges that the law is too vague.

"One whole year has passed since the outbreak of  Jan. 25 revolution, but it is still not the time to disclose several facts concerning the months that preceded the revolution," said a statement from Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). "The time will come when we will talk while we are at our units protecting the land, skies and seas of Egypt. Then we will reveal several truths that will make this nation proud of its armed forces"  

Human rights activists say that the act of lifting the state of emergency is "misleading" as it still leaves a lot of room for arbitrary detention.

Some of the other demands the people have of the military are justice for those who suffered during the regime and the uprising.

The speaker of parliament said that the military will form a fact finding committee to deal with the issues of justice, in regards to the people's demands.  

Despite the lifting of the state of emergency and the promise of justice, Egypt still erupted into mass protests on Jan. 25, which continued to Jan. 27.

On Jan. 27, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians again filled the streets and Tahrir Square to protest once more – demonstrations which are now being called "Friday for Dignity".

The current situation in Egypt is "very complicated", said Terrence Carroll, Brock University Political Science Professor. Carroll explained that these demonstrations are taking place now because, as it is the first anniversary of the revolution, many different groups that originally supported the ousting of Mubarak are coming together again.

An election to determine the new ruling party of Egypt will not take place until June, and until that time the military will remain in power.

Carroll said that this does not sit well with many of the secularist and liberal activists who began the original revolution, as citizens now fear that they will have gone from one military regime to another.

"The Muslim Brotherhood who did best in the election [...] seems to support the military."

The Brotherhood, who joined the revolution last year late in the game did the best in primary elections and if they win in June and allow the military to retain power, people fear nothing will have changed.