Friday 28 January: This was an actual war

I went out on the streets from 4pm to catch up with a protest in Maadi on Corniche El-Nil, one that was heading all the way to Tahrir Square. We were about 200 people when I first joined, but as we walked further down towards Tahrir Square, we increased and increased in numbers as more people on the streets and their balconies came down to join. We were chanting for the fall of Hosni Mubarak and our wish for freedom and change from the dictatorial regime. The protest was peaceful, there were people from all walks of life: older men with their families, middle aged men and women, groups of women, muslims, Christians, rich, poor and the majority were youth.

As we walked past buildings, we chanted for people in their balconies to join, some smiled and waved, some threw water and some even came down to join. Cars driving by honked and cheered for us and some also supplied us with water.

As we walked down and increased in number, we made sure not to block the road for motorists on the road. When any youth raging with anger showed the slightest hint of violence, the crowd would instantly cheer “peaceful revolution, peaceful revolution” to discourage any violence or vandalism.  

As maghreb prayer started, the protestors set down on the street to pray but also made sure to leave a lane for the coming motorists. Christians or those who didn’t wish to pray watched on the praying protesters in serenity and most probably made prayers to God silently within their hearts.

As we came close to Tahrir, night fell and reports came in of the growing violence used against our protesting brothers and sisters over in Tahrir. To confirm these reports, as we approached Tahrir clouds were seen in the air, burnt cars and tension running through the streets. I finally reached Tahrir and what I recall thinking to myself is that I have reached a real war zone. There was the smell of toxic gases in the air, clouds of black smoke everywhere, burnt cars, shattered glass and amidst all this, about 10,000 protesters who we joined in the front line of Qasr El-Aini street. At the end of the road, stood the central security forces, riot police and general cairo police forces.

They were some 500 metres away from us, and they stood between us and Tahrir Square.

This was an actual war, nothing like I ‘ve ever seen in my life only in movies and on the news. I asked the people who were already there why this stage turned into such a mess and was told that the security forces have been firing ruthlessly at them all day while they were only protesting peacefully and there are reports of them killing many protesters in other streets leading to Tahrir. I witnessed first hand several tear gas bombs, being fired at us in large numbers, rubber bullets and armoured cars driving at the crowds at full speed (they hit six people in their path).

Protesters were giving out anti-tear gas supplies to each other. We were all united in one voice and hand against what seemed to be a police force that was out to kill. I did not stay out there until the police forces retreated and disappeared because I actually started to fear for my own life. But I felt sad to leave behind my brothers and sisters who were there and refused to back down from that ruthless police force.

Ramy Fakhr