20140424 interview

Abstract

######, a graduate student and AUC alumna, relates her experience of the revolution in Egypt from 2011 and beyond. Alkhamissi speaks of taking part in the 18 days of demonstrations in Tahrir Square, using particular banners as meeting points to join with friends. She describes aspects of the services at the Tahrir Square demonstrations, participation of AUC community members, and reports incidents of violence she observed. Alkhamissi compares these initial demonstrations with and later Friday protests against the army the Muslim Brotherhood in which she participated. She recalls how security conditions differed from one area to another, describing the situation where she lived in Agouza and her brother’s participation in a neighborhood popular committee (ligan sha'biyya) in Mohandiseen. Differences in opinion were brought out by the revolution, according to Alkhamissi, giving the example of her best friend who was outside of Egypt and who was adamantly against the protests. She admits her misgivings about the parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum, and offers her observations on Egypt’s political system and the difficulty of and long time required for reforming the country’s institutions like the military and police.

The University on the Square: Documenting Egypt's 21st Century Revolution project was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.