Speak Up

Moved on! Check TheCairoCalls

The two judges at the center of this growing conflict, Mahmud Mekki and Hisham Bastawisi , have spoken up.
In an article sent to the Guardian, they outlined their struggle, and, in my opinion, kicked off a real campaign (the most serious one actually) aimed at uprooting a regime that had gone further than any other in suppressing...well, about anybody!
They think, however, that this regime has accomplices:

In Egypt we don't have any confidence in US policy because it is a contradictory policy that pays lip service to democracy while supporting dictatorships. We have confidence in the Egyptian people. We welcome support from any quarter, but we won't rely on it. We will depend on ourselves in our campaign for reform and change.

Americans: Here is the cause of freedom, liberty, and democracy on the march. Get rid of this man already!
Anyways, go read. [hat tip: the Arabist]

Meanwhile, in downtown Cairo, the police escalated its aggression towards the Egyptian people. What was supposed to be a day of peacful support of the aforementioned judges during their court session had turned into, no exaggeration whatsoever, a full fledged urban battle.
See the pics here, and here. No comment here.

The events are too much to comprehend, and they're evolving at a hectic pace. I don't have any insightful comments to share (if I ever did), but I wanted to share this with you.

Throughout the day the words of this song of Mohammed Mounir had been echoing in my ears:

ليه تسكتي زمن
اتكلمي
ليه تدفعي وحدك الثمن
اتكلمي
و تنامي ليه تحت الليالي
اتكلمي
المشربيات عيونك
تحكي علي خانوك
اللي سنين هملوك
جوه البيبان سلسلوكي
اتكلمي

Why shut up for ages?
Speak Up
Why pay the price all by you own?
Speak Up
Why sleep under the heavy nights?
Speak Up

Old Windows are your eyes
Telling stories about those who betrayed you
Those who for years humilated you
Who, inside closed doors, chained you up
Speak UP!