The “Arab Spring” in its Egyptian chapter initially had created high hopes as the massive anti-government protests in the iconic Tahrir Square culminated in the overthrow of the oppressive dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak and the establishment of a democratic government under President Mohamed Morsi. But what happened after that has brought only disillusionment. After ruling the country for only a year, the democratically elected government of Mr. Morsi was most unlawfully dismissed by the military. The “Arab Spring” is all about building democracy but what is unfolding in Egypt at the moment is an “antithesis of democracy”. The military-backed regime has all but demolished the vital parameters of democracy including a fair justice system.
As the editorial of Radiance Viewsweekly (11-17 May) makes it abundantly clear, the court that recently handed out the mass death sentence in Egypt has all the trappings of a “kangaroo court” violating as it did the basic tenets of fair trial. The military-backed regime has unleashed a reign of terror to decimate the opposition parties led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Any dissenting voice has been ruthlessly stifled; the freedom of the press has been bulldozed. Bloodshed and mayhem is the order of the day. One is afraid that the country is sliding back to the dark days of the Mubarak era or even worse.
Mostafa Murshid Pasa
Rajnagar, Hariharpara
Murshidabad, W.B