Egyptian bloggers worked round the clock telling the world about a workers' revolt that shook their country, as thousands rioted at a textile mill in Al Mahalla, demanding better pay and protesting against increasing prices. They were also among the first casualties of the unrest, which left two people killed, scores injured and an undetermined number of activists, organisers and mere spectators behind bars. Their coverage came in the form of blog posts, YouTube videos, Twitter feeds, Flickr shots, Facebook messages and all other online tools they could get their hands on.
April 6 was supposed to be a day of civil disobedience, where a general strike would be observed, with people staying home for the day. The government swore to hit the strike with an iron fist, and warned the public not to heed to the call. Rallies were also quashed and the day ended with a confrontation between workers and the police at the Mahalla district, at the heart of Egypt's textile industry.
Blogger Malek Mustafa was the first to be arrested, allegedly for distributing flyers, on the day of the strike. Malek has since been released, but other bloggers are still behind bars, awaiting prosecution, along with an unspecified number of detainees. Among them is Esraa Abdul Fattah, an Egyptian girl, and one of the founders of the 6 April - The Day of Anger Facebook Group, which was instrumental in spreading the word about the strike. So far, the group has attracted 68,000 members and counting. Bloggers Sharkawy and Karim Al Bihairi have also been reportedly arrested.
Tadamon Masr blog (Ar) announced Bihairi's arrest saying:
قبض على كريم البحيري، أحد العاملين بشركة غزل المحلة وصاحب مدونة عمال مصر، وأخذ إلى مكان مجهول واعتدي عليه بالضرب وتم صعقه بالكهرباء. وسئل عن كافة أرقام التليفونات التي كانت مسجلة في موبايله. مصدر هذه المعلومات هو كريم نفسه حيث تقابل مع بعض محامي “جبهة الدفاع عن متظاهري مصر” وروى لهم ما حدث له
Karim Al Bihairi, of the Egypt Labour Blog, who works in Mahalla, was arrested and taken to an unidentified location, where he was beaten up and electrocuted. He was also asked about all the telephone numbers which were registered on his cell phone. The source of all this information is Karim himself, who met with lawyers from the Coalition to Defend Egyptian Protesters and told them what happened to him.
Blogger Hossam El Hamalawy offers exceptional coverage of the unrest and security threats on bloggers, in his detailed reports, which are regularly updated and which include accounts of the incidents, dotted with graphic photographs. More photographs can be seen here and here.
Dedicated phone lines were also set up for members of the public to report their sightings of unrest to a collaborative blog called 6 April 08 (Ar), which provides detailed coverage of the three days of unrest. A coalition of lawyers to defend those arrested has been formed too and the blog posts the following plea:
توجه جبهة الدفاع عن معتقلي يوم الإضراب نداء لكل المحامين المهتمين بالحريات للتطوع و المشاركة .
The coalition to defend those arrested following the strike calls upon all lawyers interested in human rights and freedom to volunteer their services and participate.
American photojournalist James Buck, who is in Cairo, posts the following Tweet, saying:
Hundreds still missing in mahalla; families beg for human rights help
More clashes are expected in the next few weeks as online activists, supported by the masses on the ground, gear up for another faceoff with authorities. A new Facebook Group is calling for a bigger strike on May 4, which coincides with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's birthday.
Photo credit: May 4 Strike Facebook Group
Other Global Voices Online reports about the strike:
Egypt: A wake up strike
Egypt Gears Up for a General Strike Sunday
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Thank you for compiling this for us! We are listening.
great post. it has been an intense few days here and i’ve learned the world of twittering, SMS and constantly checking the blogs for news. in lieu of a true free press, activist citizens have created a media network. it’s incredible.
check out photos from the past few days in mahalla at http://flickr.com/phtotos/jameskarlbuck
Dr Filomena,
Thanks for listening.
James,
Thanks for the updates, Tweets and Flickr photos. Keep up the good work.
[...] How These Tools Are Being Used: From Amira’s excellent post: Egyptian bloggers worked round the clock telling the world about a workers’ revolt that shook their country, as thousands rioted at a textile mill in Al Mahalla, demanding better pay and protesting against increasing prices. They were also among the first casualties of the unrest, which left two people killed, scores injured and an undetermined number of activists, organisers and mere spectators behind bars. Their coverage came in the form of blog posts, YouTube videos, Twitter feeds, Flickr shots, Facebook messages and all other online tools they could get their hands on. Read more… [...]
Really excellent post, Amira. Keep up the good work !
Mary
Thanks Mary and thanks to our Egyptian cyberactivists for the relentless efforts!
Go on Amira, the light is about to shine. We all support you, and we will not let you down.
[...] Egypt: Bloggers on the Frontline [...]
In solidairty I salute the Egyptian people for their courage and strength. The evils of Murbark and his thugs will not prevail forever.
[...] Egypt: Bloggers on the Frontline Egyptian bloggers worked round the clock telling the world about a workers’ revolt that shook their country, as thousands rioted at a textile mill in Al Mahalla, demanding better pay and protesting against increasing prices. They were also among the first casualties of the unrest, which left two people killed, scores injured and an undetermined number of activists, organisers and mere spectators behind bars. Their coverage came in the form of blog posts, YouTube videos, Twitter feeds, Flickr shots, Facebook messages and all other online tools they could get their hands on. [...]
The whole country has been collapsed under the heavy corruptions of this regime.
[...] Global Voices Online has excellent coverage of recent events. See here and here. [...]
[...] across and expose what they describe as state brutality against civilians. Word about last week’s April 6 strike in Egypt was spread on a Facebook group, which has so far attracted more than 71,200 members. Now [...]
[...] на државата кон граѓаните. За минатонеделниот штрајк на 6ти април во Египет се отвори муабет во Фејсбук група, која [...]
[...] çka ata e shkruajnë si brutalitet i shtetit ndaj qytetarëve. Për grevën e javëve të kaluara me 6 prill në Egjipt u hap bisedë në grupin e Fejsbuk, e cila deri më tani ka tërhequr 71,200 anëtarë. [...]
[...] haben Sie von dem Streik am 6. April hier in Ägypten gehört, und von Esraa Abdelfattah, dem Urheber der Streik-Gruppe bei Facebook, [...]
[...] ju keni dëgjuar për grevën e 6 prillit e cila zuri vend këtu në Egjipt, dhe Esra Abdelfatah, krijuese e grevës së Fejsbuk grupit, që u [...]
[...] released. Both Esraa and Sharkawy were arrested on 5 April while distributing leaflets announcing the 6 April strike. Posted by Sami Ben Gharbia Share [...]
[...] Two Egyptian activists, Esraa Abdel Fattah Ahmed, who launched the “6 April” Facebook group and blogger Mohamed Sharkawy, have been released. Both Esraa and Sharkawy were arrested on 5 April while distributing leaflets announcing the 6 April strike. [...]
Beautiful people of Egypt, do not dispair. Freedom will come from your own bravery.
Palm Beach
Florida
[...] come under the scrutiny of Egyptian officials, following claims that a nation-wide strike on April 6, which culminated with the Mahalla workers revolt. Several bloggers as well as the founder of a [...]
[...] në shqyrtim të personave zyrtar egjiptian, pas kërkesave që sollën në grevën nacionale me 6 prill, e cila arriti kulmin me revoltën e punëtorëve të Mahalla. Disa bloger si dhe themeluesi i [...]
[...] kurzen in Aufmerksamkeitsfeld der ägyptischen Regierung, seit dort ein nationaler Generalstreik am 6. April ausgerufen wurde, der mit einem Arbeiteraufstand in Mahalla zusammen fiel. Unter den Festgenommenen [...]
[...] der ägyptischen Regierung geraten, seit dort ein nationaler Generalstreik am 6. April ausgerufen wurde, der mit einem Arbeiteraufstand in Mahalla zusammen fiel. Unter den Festgenommenen [...]
[...] من المسؤولين المصريين, بعد الاضرابات الوطنية في 6 نيسان التي بلغت ذروتها في ثورة عمال المحلة. العديد من [...]
[...] though voice (Skypecasts), words (email, blogs, Facebook, MySpace), images (flicker, YouTube). Before the April 6th strike, there was an on line campaign though emails, blog postings, Facebook gr…The result family and friends of the youth heard about the strike. The result was panic by the [...]
[...] in Mahalla City, during which a number of prominent Egyptian bloggers and internet activists were arrested, preparations for the next round of a planned general strike to mark the 80th birthday of President [...]
[...] in Mahalla City, during which a number of prominent Egyptian bloggers and internet activists were arrested, preparations for the next round of a planned general strike to mark the 80th birthday of President [...]
[...] Egyptiana andri-maso akaiky tato ho ato, taorian’ny fanoherana nanenika ny firenena tamin’ny 6 aprily, izay narahan’ny fitroatr’ireo mpiasa tao Mahalla. Mpitoraka blaogy maro hatramin’ny [...]
[...] in Mahalla City, during which a number of prominent Egyptian bloggers and internet activists were arrested, preparations for the next round of a planned general strike to mark the 80th birthday of President [...]