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Al midan (2013)
What happened?
The lights went out. - Why? This is normal. The lights are out all over the world. The lights are out all over Egypt. Everything is like this, it's not just the electricity. Electricity is the least of our problems. And all the little kids in the streets say, "Turn the lights back on, man." Who is the "man"? The man who's responsible for switching the electricity back on. The regime. Are you recording? - Yes. Really recording? Yes. OK. Do as you like. - - Let me tell you how this whole story began. Egypt was living without dignity. Injustice existed everywhere. Before the revolution, I lived from one job to the next. I started working when I was eight years old. In fifth grade, I used to pay my school tuition by selling lemons in the street. There was no hope for a better future in this country. We were tied down by an unjust regime and its dictator. Mubarak was the head of the regime that forced us to live for 30 years under emergency law. I lived my entire life under Mubarak's injustice. The regime always worked against the people. They would torture, electrocute, beat the shit out of people. No one dared to speak about politics. Politics was for the regime only. Oh, my God, people. We want to go to Tahrir Square. If we have any dignity and want to live as humans in this country, then we have to go to the streets. We will go down and demand our fundamental human rights. I am going down and I will say "no" to corruption, "no" to this regime. I went to the streets. I found everyone around me felt just as I did. The people want to end corruption! Peaceful! The police tried to divide us with all they had. People got angry... We were all present. We were one hand. One hand! One hand! One hand! We will fill the world with our poetry. Our words will stand in the Square. And they will be like bullets in this war. Revolution until victory! Revolution on every street in Egypt! Leave, Mubarak! This is when we realised that people are the true power. Every five seconds, thousands join the sit-in. We won't leave the Square until our demands are met. We've never had our rights. Finally, we have this piece of land to call our own and to claim our rights on. And now, it's ours. It's not too much to ask for. Tahrir Square is nothing compared to the thousands of acres they stole. Tea, anyone? Tea, anyone? Magdy. I told you we'd have some tea together. You, too, have some tea. If I were to talk on behalf of some of the Islamists... Who's to say who's an example of Islam? The ideas we've adopted since the start of the revolution are beautiful. The idea that we're one society. To imagine that one day I would be standing in Tahrir Square in solidarity with all these - people, I could never have imagined it. At first, we were just sleeping on newspapers. And we didn't have any blankets, only a few. And only a few people slept in. Now, it's turning into some community. It's more tents. Relationships are becoming very strong. We're waiting for him to resign tonight. Waiting, waiting, waiting. I don't know, we're all very nervous. I don't have any cigarettes left. Take this one. I'm just waiting for the speech. You don't normally get so much time to try and work out where you're going to be standing when something historic happens, and the bastard is making us wait. The protestors I talked to before I left were very concerned literally for their lives if they left that Square. The Secret Police, - the intelligence apparatus is still in place, still taking people and could pick them off one by one when they return to their homes. Khalid, you're a famous actor. Do you worry about talking like you have been? About being in with the protestors? Do you worry that you could be targeted? Well, I... I don't care. I mean, I know why I'm here and I know why I want to be here. I mean, I come from... I come from three generations - who've been fighting for social reform and political freedoms in this country. And here we have the discourse of democracy, of freedom, of social justice, of political reform being changed in the Middle East for all of us. And I'm extremely proud to be here for those reasons. God be with you. I am telling you, good things are coming. Good things. - - Usually, the Muslim Brotherhood is our biggest fear. But everyone inside the Square now is different. After the government turned it into a life or death situation, enough, it didn't matter - who you are and what you are doing. And everyone knows that you're here, and if you're here, you're willing to die. We are doing this for our children. Even if I die, it's for the future. So now that Mubarak is gone, we have to take control. The main thing is taking the regime down. Whoever is negotiating with them... The regime is already down. If you take out people and put people just like them from the same circle, from the same regime, then you didn't take down the regime, you took down people. You're absolutely right. No one is going to kill you. I told you before. The Army will sacrifice their last drop of blood before they fire a single bullet on the people. Never. Now, please pack your things and go home. When Mubarak stepped down... ...the Armed Forces took over the country's affairs. They swore to God to meet the people's demands. So people went home. And nothing happened. We didn't put the killers on trial or change the government. There is no new constitution, and the Secret Police are still in power. The regime is not just Mubarak. The regime is all the country's institutions, and they all have to change. So we went back to the Square. We're entering Tahrir Square, the place of pride and dignity, where a tent and a blanket can solve all your problems. ? We'll keep protesting!? ? We'll keep protesting!? ? We're staying here, we're not going anywhere!? ? We're staying here, we're not going anywhere!? ? We'll continue our revolution!? ? We'll continue our revolution!? - - The main way of communicating is through slogans. - -? Our revolution is a people's revolution!? ? Our revolution is a people's revolution!? ? Not a coalition's - revolution nor a party's revolution!? The expectation at first was that he would go and then we'd - all move on or find a way of doing things. Now, if he just goes and someone comes in his place and we have the whole same regime underneath him, then we have a major problem. It just becomes, we did all of this in order to just to remove him and put someone exactly like him in his place. If we still have a police state, if we still have emergency law, if we still have the constitution pretty much the same as it is, then if we had an election in six months' time, the situation would pretty much be the same because the tools of the state remain the same. We're now living in the state of Tahrir. It has its housing department. the Islamist, and the old regime led by the Army. The Army has won part of this revolution. - - They wanted to stop Mubarak's son from inheriting power. Once that happened, they wanted people to go back home, and the country to go back to its corrupt ways. I'll tell you again, I have a responsibility. I feel it, as an individual, that I have to insist on my point of view, because there is still one more centimetre I could gain. Even if it's just one centimetre, one inch. - - The Army are the leaders of the counter-revolution. You've already won a lot, and it is threatened. This is a warning. Leave! Go home. If you don't leave, I will shoot you. Egyptians do not revolt easily. For us to revolt, it means we've had enough. Enough! We'll free our country, no matter what. And we'll take down the regime. The people are determined to continue their revolution. Do whatever you want to us. We're staying, this is our Square. The people are the source of authority, not the Army. You are saying that it's a peaceful protest. You think you can do whatever you want and we won't attack you. But we will attack if necessary. That's how it is. That's the end of it. You're imposing a curfew? - Yes, God willing. You mean just in the Square? - No, everywhere. But, sir... Mister, I'm afraid this won't do. But they told us - yesterday, we could continue the sit-in in the Square. Off you go. Leave. - Yes, sir. Why the Square in particular? We took these barricades from the police, so we'd be able to stop any attack. We do trust the Army. But there are some leaders in the Army who are corrupt because they are part of Mubarak's era. Everyone's awake. There might be an attack at any time. Where are the tents? There are no tents, they're clearing the Square. What's going on? They used to come in the middle of the night. They used to take you away violently. You were afraid to dream the wrong dream for fear of punishment. They used to search his computer, looking for anything religious or Islamic. They used to come, and no one could say a word. He was electrocuted and beaten. The Army's in this position, generally, at the moment where no one believes that they could torture people or could do anything bad and are extremely happy with them for taking responsibility to return us all to stability and all of that kind of thing. This is not the right way to block a facility that represents the authority of the nation. Compare it to what happened in England. When David Cameron said, I'm going to take licence to use the ammunition against anyone trying to make a kind of demonstration in front of Downing Street or any facility. What happened? All of them withdraw. Why? Because they know the man is serious. And this is according to the law. So why do you deny it from the Egyptian authority? The battle isn't just the rocks and stones. The battle is in the images. The battle is in the stories. Shh! We decided to create a space which supports those fighting for the revolution through video and various types of media. It's what's called "popular media", using websites like YouTube. If you know anyone who has a digital camera they're not using, tell us. We should film as much as we can. The truth is that things are moving quickly. We don't know when this footage can be used as evidence. If people are being fooled about what is really happening here, we must film everything and show them the truth. As long as there's a camera, the revolution will continue. The problem now with the media is that they oppose change and turn people against the revolution. So, what will you do? Well, I am going to keep exposing them. And they'll keep exposing themselves. Until the corrupt media falls. What are you going to do? Start a television station? Yes, hopefully I will. Well, you'll have to put it in Cyprus or else they will destroy it. So you'll need a massive amount of money. Yours, because your people are poor. And who is this democracy and freedom for? Give others a chance to speak. - Please go ahead. No. Carry on, Ahmed. God give you strength. I missed you. - I missed you a lot. How are you? - Good. There's a massive turnout today. But it's a different crowd today. - Meaning? There's a big presence of Muslim Brotherhood. More than the last week? - For sure. Yes, the Brotherhood wasn't here last week. All the Muslim Brothers were told to be here today. It's been said that the Muslim Brotherhood made a deal with the Army. This is what's being said. Honestly, I'm upset about their political tactics and games. They should not be here for a political agenda or gains. Some Brotherhood leaders make secret deals with the Army and use their presence in the Square as a negotiating tool. You know I think this is wrong. The Quran is our constitution! Islamic rule! Islamic rule! The Muslim Brotherhood started yelling, "Islamic rule, Islamic rule." What do they mean by Islamic? Aren't we Muslims too? The Brotherhood began to use the Square to negotiate with the Army. They're not calling for the people's demands. But for their political demands. The Brotherhood ruined the sit-in. They've created divisions amongst everyone in the Square. They are exhausting everyone with their lies. Thank you. What are you going to eat? - I have some. When the Brotherhood are active, people say they are hijacking the revolution. But the Brotherhood existed long before the revolution. But you change your statements based on where you are. In Cairo, you say you a want secular state. In other areas, you say you want a religious one. You are the biggest supporters of the Military Council, standing against us. You speak in the name of religion to get what you want. You contradict your statements all the time. Hold on, look at this. I'm very sorry that you were beaten in the past. No, not beaten. We've spent our lives in prison cells. The Muslim Brotherhood has damaged the image of Islam. I am embarrassed of being a Muslim because of you. The Brotherhood has hijacked the revolution, OK, where's your film? No, you did. Yeah, yeah. Your ID. Open the camera. Show me the camera. I want to see - your ID. - Don't step outside. I lived in the '70s in England when IRA people or any demonstration were also beaten up, and electrified and they twisted their arms and I don't know what. A special machine to put their fingers in. So, what I'm supposed to accept that? - No, no, you are not. No, you are not supposed to - accept, but you are supposed to weigh in on things. I am weighing in things, I'm weighing in things. You seem to take a few things for granted. Well, this is why we want to get rid of them as soon as possible. And to say that the people are not ready to vote is just very condescending and wrong. I'm not against people - voting however the way they want. Yeah, I know you don't agree. The difference - between me and you and many of the young people... You want - parliamentary elections in two months? Yes, I want people to vote. - In two months? Yes, yes. As soon as possible. There are no decent parties. - OK, so what? Because you've been living in a vacuum for 30 years. OK, you've been living for the 30 years. Yet people are complaining that the Muslim Brotherhood will win. Fuck this. And they have been living in the same vacuum. Yet they do have a following. You could only start making parties a week ago. Humanity has not discovered anything better for representation than elections. If we don't have this as soon as possible... Elections that happen under circumstances in which you can have proper elections. - No. It's about there being a voice that is there... Between the ex-regime as a major power force and the Brotherhood as a major power force. Where is anything in - the middle? Who is...? What is there in the middle? Who do they vote for? -Who do they vote for? - Tell me at least who they can vote for. I believe that the millions who made this happen, I believe that the majority of them were not people who wanted the old regime - and were not people who wanted the Brotherhood. I am so fucking scared of the moment a lieutenant or a brigadier general or something will say, "Enough of this rubbish. We are back to military rule completely." It is in their interest that it disintegrates into chaos. It is in their interest to say, "OK, you people. Enough law and order." Enough of this. All the politicians are failures. The Muslim Brothers, the Salafis, the Socialists, the Liberals, they're all failures. I've decided to walk in the middle of the street. The cars can do whatever they want. What can they do? Run me over? They need to curb to the side, not me. I will stand my ground. Go away. Enough walking cautiously on the side. out and the prosecutors left with them. Now we're waiting for the families to make a decision, whether they do the autopsies or bury the bodies immediately. Without the autopsy evidence, there'll be a big problem. They'll be able to say, "Oh, they died in a stampede." They have to do autopsies. They have to be filmed. Because there are clear marks that they were run over by tanks. They summarised all you wrote, and said he died from a bullet in the chest. Stay here. I'll get you the report. For a year, we've been in this mess. In this shit, in this country, because of every time we keep silent. We can't stay silent. We have to keep the pressure on. We might not win this time, but maybe next time. People must know they will be punished and be afraid of that. People can't take it anymore. They're losing their nerves. The Egyptian regime was able to fool both Muslims and Christians. They want to suffocate us. If it remains stuck in our minds that it's a sectarian problem, that will be a crisis. The Army wants this to happen. The Army wants to divide us. There is an old saying: "Divide and conquer." - Exactly. They want to divide Muslims and Christians. Why, Mina? Didn't I tell you not to go to protests? "I won't go. I'll do as you say, Mom." But you tricked me and went, and took your life away from me. "If I died a martyr, Mom, would you be sad for me, Mom?" I'm not sad for the martyr in you. But losing you hurts, my love. I'm not sad for the martyr in you, my love. I'm not sad for the martyr in you, my love. Our parting hurts, Mina. Our Army is firing at us! A new revolution all over again! Live free or die heroes! Our Army has protected you! And protected the revolution! The Army didn't protect the revolution. The Army protected their interests, but betrayed the revolution! Betrayed the revolution! - Protected! Betrayed the revolution! Betrayed the revolution! Betrayed the revolution! - The Army betrayed the revolution! So you are right and all of us are wrong? The people demand the fall of the military regime! They were firing live bullets at us. Firing randomly in every corner of the Square. People were falling one by one. Just because they were saying, "Down with military rule." Revolutionaries. The good and free people are being called traitors... ...while the traitors are called heroes. It was too much. Too many bullets. Our Army is killing us. They can't be Egyptians! They forgot Egypt! He's alive, he's alive! Death always knocks on my door. Knocking on my head. I'm trying to do a daily report. You going to get it out online? - Yes. I think we can cut into the... - - The Muslim Brotherhood has not really participated in these protests whatsoever. They want the elections to go forward as planned because they stand to gain the most from them, and they are being severely accused by the revolutionary youth Hey, kiddo, are you OK? Ahmed! Ahmed! Let me pass, let me pass! Is it a bullet? A bullet? Is it a bullet? Or a rock? Can I have some bandages? Bandages, bandages! Why is there all this blood? - Why all this blood? They're gassing the hospital and people are dying. Even the doctors are dying. I think it's nerve gas. You collapse and convulse. Did you film any of this? - I filmed but then I fell. You couldn't take it? I was shaking and suffocating. Everyone was. The patients have to be moved, or they will die. These are being thrown at us. This is what is making us fall to the ground. America? A gift. These battles have been raging not for hours, but for days. Up to 14 people have been killed, hundreds injured. A video uploaded yesterday on YouTube has circulated widely, provoked outrage at the extent of police brutality. General Tantawi denied that any live bullets have been fired. Glorious people of Egypt. What we are witnessing now on the streets and television are just accusations attempting to smear the image of the military. The Armed Forces will move forward with parliamentary elections as planned. Presidential elections will take place before the end of June 2012. It's the first time he dares speak to us! [overlapping shouts from crowd] - [sirens wailing in distance] Hello, can you hear me? I have no fear about the future of this country. I have fear for a future of this country which includes the military, and a military that wants to be above the rule of law, a military that wants to be above the constitution, a military that doesn't want to tell us how much money they're stealing from this country, a military that is receiving aid in the millions - and billions from the US and other governments. Hi, Ahmed. How did you know it was me? Of course, honey, you're my sweetheart. So quickly you said, "Hello, Ahmed." A revolution that removed a regime, OK? Before the people destroyed it. Did the Army protect the revolution? We didn't protect the revolution, we made it happen. You kids don't know anything. I was beaten with boots and sticks. I'm bruised from being beaten all over my body. I've lived in the military world for 40 years. I am honestly telling you the Armed Forces are not like this. At all. You've been entrusted with a nation's security. It's your duty. So all I'm asking is, how can I entrust a nation - to those who can't even protect a woman? Even if I am your brother, at some point, I must be tough on you. I don't understand why. Why? When the Army first came to the streets, people climbed on tanks and hugged the soldiers and clapped for them. What then? Why? What's wrong with you? I swear to you, Ghada, - one day you'll say you met General Hamdy Bekheit, and he told you the following: None of the guilty will get away with it. Whatever happens. I promise you. This is a picture of a friend who took a bullet in his leg. This is not an Army bullet. It doesn't look like one. The most beautiful thing about our Square is that everyone who comes here follows his conscience, not some political force. And that's what makes us strong. We're here presenting Cinema Tahrir to remind us why we are here, and to show the people who ask us why we're still here. Because only we can tell our stories. The revolutionaries who toppled the regime have died, been injured, or gone to prison. And with no constitution, they want to hold elections stained by revolutionary blood, supervised by those who killed the revolutionaries. And they made two ballot boxes. One for the killer, and one for the traitor. Our voices will keep getting higher and higher, because the streets are our ballot boxes. - - The next Egyptian president will either be an Islamist from the Muslim - Brotherhood or Mubarak's last prime minister, and that has left - many of the so-called revolutionaries with a very tough choice in a very close race. I don't want either. We're stuck between a rock and a hard place. We'll have to accept whatever happens. Everyone keep your voices down. With 51.73 percent, 13 million, 230 thousand and 131... we have the same problems. It's crazy, we made a revolution and no new constitution. We got a president without a constitution. The most important thing is the new constitution. And now it's under their control. Religion is the biggest problem we will face in this next phase, because we have a new political power that also claims it's a religious organisation, a missionary force, and this is a disaster. Magdy, I love you. But I hate the Brotherhood. They made shitty decisions, and we're in a shitty situation. You elected a president. You need to be patient. For how long? The President is a man who I trust with my religion. Can't I trust him with my politics too? This is the constitution of the Brotherhood. We are Egyptian citizens. We are not Brotherhood citizens. You were against torture, and now you're torturing. Against corruption, and now you're corrupt. Who brought Morsi into power? The people. - The people. Because they felt you guys were an oppressed people. This document will allow what happened to you to happen to me. Do you accept that? - Of course not. OK, then take this constitution. It doesn't serve me. I hated what they did to you. I went to the streets because of it. Why did we go to the street? Wasn't it to protest against police brutality? The Secret Police that tortured you? You are allowing the Secret Police to do the same thing to me. And you're saying "yes" to this. The people demand the fall of the regime! This is the third stage of our revolution. We got rid of Mubarak, then the military. Now the focus is on the Brotherhood. It is a - bigger challenge, because it will include more blood. When you're fighting your own people, it's different from fighting the regime. Because, after all, even if the regime was extremely violent and vicious, and if they used all the weapons they had, it's still not as vicious as when the people fight each other. It's very different. In the name of God, I am directing this to the people who have resorted to violence. The time has come for the law to judge them and punish them. He's ordering his people to attack us. That's the message behind his speech. Go to the streets and attack the hell out of them. The Brotherhood has been fucking with us for two years. I didn't see you today at all. What did Morsi do wrong? No one has given him a chance. My butcher the other day yelled, "Goddamn you, Morsi." I asked why. He said, - "Because it is so hot." - Is this a joke? -If there were alternatives, I wouldn't want Morsi. Honestly, we don't care about Mubarak or Morsi. We just want a decent man to rule with justice. I don't care if he's a Jew. We're afraid that if Morsi falls, we will be taken back to prisons. Why all the focus on the Brotherhood and how horrible the President is? The revolutionaries were your friends. You lived with them. There is a fog in the country. - No, Magdy. You abandoned one side and chose the other. I didn't abandon. I chose the side that I grew up with, that I felt was supporting me. Magdy has five children. How does he provide for them? The Muslim Brotherhood. All the time Magdy was playing revolutionary, being filmed, shot at, jailed, what did he gain? Where did that get him? I never thought we'd all be divided into the Brotherhood and other groups. I'm sad. Nothing has changed for my dad. We haven't gained from the revolution. I still can't get health care. It's OK. It's OK. These are the gains of the revolution. She's filled with tears. It's OK. Everything will be all right. Protests continue in Egypt as the country's top opposition leaders renew calls to topple the Islamist regime. The climax will be an open-ended strike across Egypt on the 30th of June. A grassroots campaign has gathered over 18 million signatures. They hope to install a transitional government and call early presidential elections. Muslim Brotherhood officials, for their part, have said that many of those coming out on June 30th are thugs. Our beloved President, may God make June 30th a day of pride for Islam and a day of doom - for the hypocrite opposition. - May you destroy them all. Defeat them and make us win. - Amen. Protect us from their evils. - Amen. President Morsi is a line you don't cross. Meaning? - Meaning, if you threaten him, we'll spill your blood. - Meaning? Meaning, he's the legitimate elected President. But they're going to the streets to take him down. They can go to hell. Why? It's their right. - No, It's not their right. Freedom! Freedom! What is revolution? Revolution is not simply replacing a regime. Revolution is a culture of a people. You give them ownership of their freedom. That's what we gained. You don't want to see your friends, Khalid and Ahmed? I want to see them, but I'm assigned here now. They told me I need to stay. I don't want to stand with one side against the other, and it could result in death. Understand? Aren't you sad? - Of course. That your friends are on the opposite side? Who am I attacking? Am I going to attack Khalid Abdalla? Or Pierre who used to host me in his apartment? The President's speech was not satisfactory to the people's demands. Early presidential elections will be held. The head of the constitutional court will be the interim President until a new President is elected. Long live Egypt! Long live Egypt! Long live Egypt! Morsi has fallen. So did the Army and Mubarak. We're waiting for the next one. This is our life now, we'll stay in the street. I want to go home and sleep. So tell me, Magdy, what are we going to do now? Listen, Ahmed, I swear to God, I'm at the Brotherhood sit-in. We may or may not be massacred. It doesn't matter. If you're meant to die, it's going to happen wherever you are. The more they kill, the more we believe in our cause. The pro-Morsi sit-in declared that there have been deaths after they were shot at with live bullets. A massacre by all means. Magdy, as much as I've been violent in words, that was just anger speaking. Well, you're putting our religion on the line. You're challenging our belief of an Islamic country. Honestly, I want to come be with you. After all, this revolution was for a principle, not for blood. What I feared has started happening. That we're going to fight each other. - - We're all your soldiers. Morsi! - We'll rally beside you. Morsi! We'll rally beside you. Morsi! I don't want you to get hurt or killed. Magdy, when I gave you a hard time, it was because I was mad. But we still respect each other's opinions. And you and I agree. We want the best for our country. You shouldn't come here. You shouldn't come here. No, forget it, I'm coming. What will they do? Kill me? That's up to God's will. And if I die I'll just blame it on you, Magdy. You know me. I'm not here to die or to kill. You know my intentions. ? Freedom is coming, that's for sure? ? "Liberty" was written in our destiny? ? They said, riots are in our blood? ? And how dare we claim our rights?? ? Freedom? ? Revolution!? ? Oh, the Square? ? Where were you long ago?? ? With you we sung and with you we suffered? ? We've prayed and we've been scared? ? United day and night? ? Nothing is impossible with you? ? The sound of freedom is gathering us? ? And our lives finally have meaning? ? No turning back? ? Our voices are finally heard? ? And the dream is no longer forbidden? ? Oh, the Square? ? Where were you long ago?? ? You've destroyed the walls and let in the light? ? You gathered the broken people around you? ? We've been reborn? ? And our determined dream was born? ? We have our differences but our intentions are pure? ? Even when the picture wasn't clear? ? Honouring our country and our grandchildren? ? And the rights that have been stolen from our youth? ? Oh, the Square? ? Where were you long ago?? ? With you we felt something for the first time? ? But since then we grew apart? ? We have to change ourselves with our own hands? ? You gave us so much and now it's our turn? ? Sometimes I fear that you become a memory? |
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