Between 80,000 and 100,000 women demonstrated in Tahrir Square yesterday to express their outrage at the recent assault of a woman by thugs dressed as soldiers in Tahrir. The video documenting the attack went viral as soon as it hit YouTube. That single video has elicited more fury from Egyptians, a greater response from the world, and a bigger reaction from the Supreme Military Council than any other event since the revolution began. The protests today were directed at Tantawi, and he was forced to issue a statement promising that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The victim was a physician who was on her way to work in a field hospital in Tahrir. Just to make things more dramatic.
What happened to her was deeply shocking. Not just disturbing, but truly inexplicable behavior for Egyptians. It doesn't make sense for soldiers: even if people are angry at the Supreme Military Council, the soldiers in the streets are still Egyptians, most of them conscripted for three years. Even in light of recent events, any typical Egyptian soldier would never behave that way. It makes me suspect that these assaulters were not soldiers, but rather members of Mubarak's old party dressed as soldiers. They're wild wounded animals, more dangerous than ever because they're in survival mode and they have no limits.
I have no doubt that they will soon be identified from the footage that was caught of the event. Just recently, a police officer was filmed targeting protesters in Tahrir with a rubber bullet gun. He seriously wounded several people. The video was posted on the Internet, and soon his name, address, and social security number were posted on Facebook. He turned himself in to the authorities before his head ended up on a spike. Only a matter of time before the same happens to these new villains, if the actual army doesn't get them first.
The victim was a physician who was on her way to work in a field hospital in Tahrir. Just to make things more dramatic.
What happened to her was deeply shocking. Not just disturbing, but truly inexplicable behavior for Egyptians. It doesn't make sense for soldiers: even if people are angry at the Supreme Military Council, the soldiers in the streets are still Egyptians, most of them conscripted for three years. Even in light of recent events, any typical Egyptian soldier would never behave that way. It makes me suspect that these assaulters were not soldiers, but rather members of Mubarak's old party dressed as soldiers. They're wild wounded animals, more dangerous than ever because they're in survival mode and they have no limits.
I have no doubt that they will soon be identified from the footage that was caught of the event. Just recently, a police officer was filmed targeting protesters in Tahrir with a rubber bullet gun. He seriously wounded several people. The video was posted on the Internet, and soon his name, address, and social security number were posted on Facebook. He turned himself in to the authorities before his head ended up on a spike. Only a matter of time before the same happens to these new villains, if the actual army doesn't get them first.
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