The Spark, January 25, 2011

Responding to the invitation of the ‘We Are All Khaled Said’— 28 year-old man who died in police custody—page on Facebook, tens of thousands of people convene in Liberation Square, raising the slogan of ‘Bread, Freedom and Social Equity’, in a mass demonstration that Egypt has not witnessed since the uprising of Jan. 18 and 19, 1977 against the increased costs of living.

Anger Friday, January 28, 2011

The Spark, January 25, 2011

Responding to the invitation of the ‘We Are All Khaled Said’— 28 year-old man who died in police custody—page on Facebook, tens of thousands of people convene in Liberation Square, raising the slogan of ‘Bread, Freedom and Social Equity’, in a mass demonstration that Egypt has not witnessed since the uprising of Jan. 18 and 19, 1977 against the increased costs of living.

Anger Friday, January 28, 2011

The invitation to ‘Anger Friday’ in all squares of Egypt is met with vast popular participation, and, for the first time since the breaking out of the revolution, with frank support from The Muslim Brotherhood. The authorities shut down the Internet and mobile phone networks. Vast arrest campaigns and violent confrontations between the police and the demonstrators in many governorates result in thousands of injured and hundreds dead. Police stations and National Party centers are set on fire. At night, the army’s armored vehicles appear in the streets, trying to restore security.

Camel Battle, February 2, 2011

Tens of ‘baltajia’ riding camels and horses break through Liberation Square. Confrontations at the peripheries of the square between the demonstrators and the regime supporters— stone throwing, Molotov cocktails and bullets of snipers killing many sitters-in— continue until the early hours of the next day.

Step-down Day, February 11, 2011

General Omar Suleiman, the vice-president at the time announces, in brief, that President Mubarak has stepped down and commissioned the Armed Forces Supreme Council to ‘run the country’s affairs’. 

Virginity Inspections, March 8, 2011

Army troops disperse a sit-in within Liberation Sq. and confine 18 female political activists at the building of the Egyptian Museum near the square. Later on, Samira Ibrahim, one of the confined women, files a complaint against members of the army, accusing them of beating and torturing her and her colleagues and forcing them to undergo ‘virginity inspections’ while threatening them with accusations of prostitution.

Mubarak Faces Justice/National Party Dissolved, April 2011

Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Jamal, are referred to public prosecution for investigations for the killing of demonstrators and illegal money making. The Supreme Administrative Court decides to dissolve the National Democratic Party, which ruled for more than 30 years.

Balloon Theatre Events, June 28, 2011

On the margin of a ceremony to honor some deceased parents at the Balloon Theatre in Giza, a quarrel turns into a demonstration in Liberation Square, calling for fair punishment of the killers of demonstrators. In a first intensive appearance since the revolution’s outbreak, the Central Security Forces intervene to control the square. Confrontations between the police and demonstrators go on for many days.

Mubarak and Sons Go to Trial, August, 2011

The trial of Mubarak, his sons, Alaa and Jamal, his Minister of Interior, Habeeb el Adly and six senior assistants begins. The first sessions are broadcasted on air, before Justice Ahmed Refaat decides to stop the broadcasting.

The Israeli Embassy, September 9, 2011

Demonstrators in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo manage to destroy the concrete wall around the embassy. Some demonstrators break into the building and throw out documents and papers that are said to be an archive. Ahmad Ashahhat climbs the building, takes down the Israeli flag and flies the Egyptian one in its place. 

‘Maspero,’ October 9, 2011          

Thousands of Copts—native Egyptian Christians—go out and demonstrate, declaring their intention to sit-in opposite the Radio and TV Building in Maspero in the middle of Cairo, and protest the destruction of a building that is said to be a church in Almrainab Village in Aswan. Confrontations between the demonstrators and the military police soon after their arrival to Maspero, cause the death of 24-35 persons, most of whom are Copts. Army troops are accused of breaking through the demonstration by armored vehicles and ‘running over’ many demonstrators.

Muhammad Mahmud, November 19, 2011

Confrontations take place between security forces and demonstrators in Muhammad Mahmud St. close to the Ministry of Interior in the middle of Cairo as a result of a demonstration calling for the transfer of power from the Military Council to a civil body. The confrontations go on for around a week non-stop. More than 40 persons are killed and dozens injured. Subsequently, the Essam Sharaf Government resigns and the former Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri is commissioned to form a new government.

Legislative Elections, November 28, 2011 to February 22, 2012

The People’s Assembly elections (Nov. 28, 2011-Jan. 1, 2012) take place in three phases, followed by the elections of the Advisory Council (Jan. 29 –Feb. 22, 2012). The elections result in an overwhelming victory of political Islamist groups, namely the Muslim Brotherhood, Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist Alnour Party. 

Port Said Stadium Massacre, February 1, 2012  

Fights inside Port Said Stadium after a football match between Al-Masri and Al-Ahli teams result in the death of 73 supporters of Al-Ahli, namely from among the ‘Ultras’ supporters league, which is known for its involvement in the demonstrations against Mubarak’s regime and its remnants since the outbreak of the revolution. Accusations are made to the security forces for arranging the incident, or at least for failing to react properly and rapidly. The public prosecutor files a complaint, accusing 75 persons, including Essam Samak, the city’s chief of security, of being responsible for the incident.

Al-Abbassia May, 2012

The Supreme Committee for the presidential elections excludes the Islamist candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail from the race because his mother holds American citizenship, which contradicts the legal eligibility of a presidential candidate. Abu Ismail supporters sit-in before the Ministry of Defense in Al-Abbassia, denouncing the decision. The situation evolves into a confrontation among them, the protesters and armed baltajia, resulting in 11 deaths and tens of wounded.

Life Sentence, June 2, 2012

The Cairo Criminal Court sentences the former President Hosni Mubarak and his Minister of Interior, Habeeb el Adly, to life imprisonment for the killing of demonstrators.  It declares Mubarak’s sons and the six assistants of the former Minister of Interior innocent, which is interpreted by some as ‘Mubarak is guilty; his regime isn’t.’

Presidential Elections, May 17 – June 23, 2012

The main candidates are: Amr Moussa, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmad Shafik, the former Prime Minister, Hamdeen Sabahi, Chairman of the Al-Karama Party, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, former member of the Muslim Brotherhood Guidance Office and Mohamed Morsi, Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood Freedom and Justice Party. After the second round of elections the race comes down to two final candidates: Ahmad Shafik and Mohamed Morsi. The Supreme Committee, after one week of the voting process, declares Morsi as the first president of the second Republic of Egypt.