The “R4BIA sign” has become the most rapidly spreading symbol across the globe in recent years. It was born in Rabia al-Adawiya Square, now the focal point of the resistance against the military coup in Egypt on 3 July, resulting in the military overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi. The logo for the sign, featuring four black fingers on a yellow background, has achieved substantial visibility online. Millions across the Muslim world from Malaysia to Morocco have begun using it as an avatar image on their social media profiles. Now the sign has its own website running, www.r4abia.com, which features information about how the sign was born and what it means. The website, available in English, Arabic and Turkish, also contains photo and video content.
The Rabaa (Rabia) sign is embraced by Turkish people as they make the sign at demonstrations and parents name their children after ‘Rabaa’. According to Directorate General of Civil Registration and Nationality, nearly 300 recently new-born babies were named as Rabaa after the Egyptian security forces violently dispersed anti-coup protestors that left thousands of people dead. Some municipalities in the country named their parks or squares as Rabaa as well. The sign, which is made by raising 4 fingers and has become the symbol of the massacre in Egypt and Rabaa al-Adawiya Square where anti-coup protests occur, is popular among Turkish protestors.