23 Killed as Egypt Protesters Mark Anniversary of 2011 Revolution

Four Years Later, Egypt's New Junta Reacts Harshly to Rallies

At least 23 people were killed Sunday in Egypt as police moved harshly against protesters aiming to commemorate the four year anniversary of the ouster of long-standing dictator Hosni Mubarak.

It was a second day of rallies, and thousands took to the streets in Cairo to condemn the killing of 32-year-old Shalma al-Sabbagh, a mother who was shot in the face by “non-lethal” bird shot by troops.

In 2012 and 2013, the commemoration of the revolution was largely celebratory, but the summer 2013 military coup changed things a bit, and with all the charges against Mubarak having since been scrapped by the new military rulers, the revolution seems increasingly like a missed opportunity than a great historic moment for Egypt.

Junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi admonished the demonstrators to be “patient,” and insisted that the military was committed to democracy and the “revolution’s goals” in the long run.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.