User:Zakawer/2013 Egyptian political crisis

Zakawer/2013 Egyptian political crisis
Location Egypt Result President Mohamed Morsi removed from office by the Egyptian Armed Forces Constitution temporarily suspended and a transitional roadmap declared Adly Mansour becomes interim president until presidential elections are held Dissolution of Shura Council until new legislature is elected Escalation of militant attacks in the Sinai Peninsula Civil unrest and instability, much of which is attributed to the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters Temporary suspension of Egypt from the African Union until 2014 Constitution reinstated following 2014 referendum New president elected following presidential election held in 2014 House of Representatives elected in 2015 and inaugurated in 2016 Mohamed Morsi dies during his court trial on 17 June 2019
Belligerents
Egyptian government Muslim Brotherhood Freedom and Justice Party Pro-Morsi/pro-Brotherhood protesters Supported by: Turkey Qatar	Egyptian Armed Forces Egyptian law enforcement Anti-Morsi protesters Supported by: Bahrain Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates
Commanders and leaders
Mohamed Morsi (President of Egypt) Hesham Qandil (Prime Minister of Egypt) Saad El-Katatni (Chairman of the FJP) Mohammed Badie (Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood) Khairat el-Shater (Deputy Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood)	Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Deputy PM and Minister of Defense) Sedki Sobhi (Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces) Mohamed Ibrahim (Minister of Interior)

{{Campaignbox Islamist unrest in Egypt (2013–2015)}}

On 3 July 2013, following mass protests in Egypt against the presidency of the Muslim Brotherhood-aligned president Mohamed Morsi, Defense Minister General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced the removal of Morsi from power and the suspension of the Egyptian constitution. The move came after Sisi's ultimatum for the Morsi government to "resolve its differences" with opponents during the aforementioned mass protests. Because of Morsi's refusal to agree to the deadline, he was removed from office. The military arrested Morsi and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders, and declared Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Adly Mansour, as the interim president of Egypt. The announcement was followed by demonstrations and clashes between supporters and opponents of the move throughout Egypt. The military's action was supported by the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and opposition leader Mohamed El-Baradei, as well as the tens of millions of protesters who partook in the uprising.

There were mixed international reactions to this particular incident. Most Arab governments were generally supportive or neutral, with the exception of the Qatari and interim Tunisian governments at the time, which strongly condemned the incident. The removal of Morsi was also sharply condemned by the government of Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as well. The United States, under the presidency of Barack Obama refused to describe the incident as a coup d'état. Other states expressed concern over the incident, with many of them . Due to the regulations of the African Union regarding the interruption of constitutional rule by a member state, Egypt was temporarily suspended from that union. There had also been debate in the media regarding the labeling of these events. It has been described by most Western media outlets and by many foreign observers as a "coup d'état," echoing arguments by the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters; however, it is considered to be part of a popular revolution by proponents of Morsi's overthrow.

Due to the African Union's policies regarding unconstitutional changes of government, Egypt's membership in the organization was suspended for one year. The removal of Morsi from office strained Egypt's diplomatic ties with Turkey and Qatar significantly for several years, while resulting in a simultaneous improvement in the country's relationship with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. It also resulted in an ongoing jihadist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, which the Egyptian army has been actively combating in the years since.

In 2014, Sisi himself was later elected president, and Egypt's membership in the African Union was subsequently restored.

Morsi later died at the age of 67 on 17 June 2019, during a court session.

Owing to the negative connotations of the term "coup d'état," its use to describe the incident is contentious among participants of the anti-Morsi uprising.

Background

Further information: 2011 Egyptian revolution, Aftermath of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, 2012–13 Egyptian protests, and June 2013 Egyptian protests

Then-President Mohamed Morsi (right) and Defense Minister el-Sisi (left) listen to visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (center), during a meeting with U.S. officials on 24 April 2013. Sisi, chosen by Morsi to be the first post-Mubarak-era Defense Minister, would later sanction the removal of Morsi from office.

In February 2011, Hosni Mubarak resigned after 18 days of mass demonstrations that ended his 29-year rule of Egypt. In July 2011, the caretaker government spearheaded by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces approved an election law, leading to election of a Parliament in December 2011–January 2012, and an advisory council in January–February 2012. An alliance led by the Freedom and Justice Party, a political party linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, won the most seats in each election. An additional 25% of the members of the advisory council were to be appointed by the President. In June 2012, Mohamed Morsi won the presidential election with 51.73% of total votes, becoming the first Egyptian president to gain power purely through an election. In June 2012, prior to Morsi being sworn in as President, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the election law was unconstitutional and ordered the elected bodies dissolved. After assuming office, President Morsi appointed additional members to the advisory council from 35 political parties and invited the elected bodies to meet to discuss the ruling of the court.

The elected parliament determined that the constitutional court did not have authority to dissolve an elected parliament, then referred the matter to the Court of Cassation. The elected parliament could not pass any laws, but the advisory council continued to give advice on proposed Presidential Decrees. The Parliament also proceeded with creation of a new constitutional committee to draft amendments to the Egyptian Constitution, replacing the committee created in March 2012 but dissolved by the constitutional court. Proposed constitutional amendments were approved in December 2012 by a national referendum. New elections were scheduled for April 2013 under a law approved in draft by the constitutional court, but were postponed to October 2013 to comply with a technical order of an administrative court.

On 28 April 2013, Tamarod was started as a grassroots movement to collect signatures to remove Morsi by 30 June. They called for peaceful demonstrations across Egypt especially in front of the Presidential Palace in Cairo. The movement was supported by the National Salvation Front, April 6 Youth Movement and Strong Egypt Party, though the latter of the three later denounced Morsi's removal and decried it as a "military coup."

At a conference on 15 June, Morsi called for foreign intervention in Syria. According to Yasser El-Shimy, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, this statement crossed "a national security red line." The army rebuked this statement the next day by stating that its only role was to guard Egypt's borders. Although the Egyptian constitution ostensibly declares the president as the supreme commander of the armed forces, the Egyptian military is independent of civilian control.

As the first anniversary of Morsi's presidential inauguration approached in 2013, his organization and affiliates such as the National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy started demonstrations at multiple places including El-Hossary Mosque, El-Nahda Square, outside of Cairo University, at the Rabaa el-Adaweya Mosque, outside of Al-Rayan Mosque in the posh suburb of Maadi, and in the Ain Shams district. They had started open-ended rallies. The largest protest was planned for 30 June.

Causes

The removal of Morsi from office followed protests that were instigated by frustration with Morsi's year-long rule in which Egypt faced economic issues, energy shortages, lack of security and diplomatic crises. Some of the issues that might have caused the protests and lead to the later removal of Morsi include:

• Almost a year earlier (on 22 November 2012), President Morsi enacted a controversial constitutional declaration, granting the presidential power to appoint the People's Prosecutor, and until the constitution was finalized, and a new People's Assembly was elected, all Presidential decisions were final and irrefutable. The declaration also immunized the Constituent Assembly and Shura Council from dissolution. The declaration was later abrogated before referendum due to multiple protests and public anger.
• The Muslim Brotherhood and its ruling political party using the majority of its members and allies in the constitutional committee to pass a hotly-disputed constitution. Even though it was approved by 64% of Egyptians who voted, it was noted that only about 30% of Egyptians with voting rights participated in the referendum process. which caused all non-Islamists to withdraw from the committee.
• Power, gas and economical crises. Plans to cut subsidies in exchange for a $4.8 billion IMF loan which would cause an increase in the price of gas, electricity, food and taxes.
• Several diplomatic problems, including the construction of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam along the River Nile, affecting Egypt's share of water.
• State security worsening, with two of the most prominent stories related to security under Morsi being the murder of 16 border guards in Sinai in an attack, and the abduction of 7 Egyptian security personnel who were later released.

Events

Main article: June 2013 Egyptian protests

Anti-Morsi demonstrators marching in Cairo on 28 June

On Friday 28 June, protests against Morsi started to build throughout Egypt including in such cities as Cairo, Alexandria, Dakahlia, Gharbiya and Aswan as a "warm up" for the massive protests expected on 30 June that were planned by Tamarod. Pro-Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood supporters started counter demonstrations at the Rabia Al-Adawiya Mosque in Nasr City days beforeward.

Prior to the protests, Christians, particularly in Upper Egypt, received threats from pro-Morsi protestors, pressuring them not to take part in the protests. Sheikh Essam Abdulamek, a member of parliament's Shura Council, said in an interview on television that Christians should not participate in the protests and warned them that they "[may] not sacrifice [their] children [since the] general Muslim opinion [would] not be silent about the ousting of the president."

According to information that came out after the removal of Morsi, officials argued that Morsi stopped working at the Egyptian Presidential Palace on 26 June in anticipation to the protests and moved with his family to El-Quba Palace.

On 29 June, Tamarod argued that it collected more than 22 million signatures from a petition calling for Morsi to step down as president.

30 June: Anti-Morsi demonstrations

On 30 June, 14 million to 33 million protesters demonstrated across Egypt against Morsi bellowing their anger at the Brotherhood, which they accused of hijacking Egypt's 2011 revolution and using electoral victories to monopolize power and impose Islamic law. Thousands in support of Morsi gathered in Rabaa Square in Cairo and other cities in a counterprotest, with majority of Islamist sentiments. The number of protesters is generally accepted to be somewhere between 14 million and 33 million. In Damietta, 250 fishing boat sailors demonstrated against Morsi by sailing through the Nile and chanting against him. The President moved that day from the Quba Palace to the Republican Guard headquarters, while protesters thought he was at Ittihadeya Palace.

1 July: Deadlines and options

External videos
Helicopter view of the protesters

On 1 July, again more than 1 millions of demonstrators against Morsi gathered in Tahrir Square and outside the presidential palace, while other demonstrations were held in the cities of Alexandria, Port Said and Suez. Some police officers wearing their uniforms joined the anti-Morsi protests and chanted: "The police and the people are one." In clashes around the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Mokatam, eight people died. Their headquarters was ransacked and burned while protesters threw objects at windows and looted the building, making off with office equipment and documents. Tamarod gave President Mohamed Morsi until 2 July at 17:00 to resign or face a civil disobedience campaign. That was followed by the Egyptian Armed Forces issuing a 48-hour ultimatum that gave the country's political parties until 3 July to meet the demands of the Egyptian people. The Egyptian military also threatened to intervene if the dispute was not resolved by then. Four ministers also resigned on the same day: Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou (who previously offered to resign a few months earlier after Morsi appointed an Islamist member of al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, the group responsible of the Luxor massacre, as governor of Luxor), Communication and IT Minister Atef Helmi, State Minister for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Hatem Bagato, and State Minister for Environmental Affairs Khaled Abdel Aal, leaving the government with only members of the Freedom and Justice Party. On the same day, it was reported that President of the United States Barack Obama called Morsi. The call went along the United States' vision, and argued that the only option in the stressed situation would be to call for an early general presidential election in which Morsi is not a candidate, to which Morsi answered,"The Egyptian people decide", before closing the line.

2 July: Morsi speech

On 2 July, opponents and supporters of Morsi gathered in the capital, Cairo, as the deadline set by the military for him to leave power passed. Helicopters were also present around Cairo with armored vehicles taking up positions. On 3 July, clashes between protestors and local residents erupted around a pro-Morsi rally near Cairo University, leaving 18 people dead. Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr also resigned, in support of the anti-government protesters. The presidency rejected the Egyptian Army's 48-hour ultimatum, vowing that the president would pursue his own plans for national reconciliation to resolve the political crisis. Defense Minister General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was also said to have told Morsi that he would impose a military solution if a political one could not be found by the next day. Incidentally, the Court of Cassation ordered the reinstatement of former general prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmoud who was replaced with Talaat Abdallah following the constitutional declaration on 22 November 2012. The presidential spokesman and the spokesman for the cabinet resigned as well.

The newspaper Al-Ahram reported that if there were no political resolution, the military would suspend the constitution of Egypt and appoint a new council of experts to draft a new one, institute a three-person executive council, and appoint a prime minister who had a military background. Morsi's military advisor, Sami Hafez Anan, also resigned and said that the army would not "abandon the will of the people."

In a late-night television address Morsi declared that he would "defend the legitimacy of his elected office with his life." He added that "there is no substitute for legitimacy" as he vowed not to resign. Morsi accused supporters of Hosni Mubarak of exploiting the wave of protests to topple the government and fight democracy. After Morsi's statement, an official Facebook page of the Egyptian Armed Forces wrote a post under the title "The Last Hours" saying in response to Morsi: "The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces had mentioned before that it is better for us to die rather than seeing the Egyptian people being threatened or horrified. And we swear that we would sacrifice our lives and our blood for Egypt against every terrorist, extremist or ignorant. Long live Egypt."

3 July: Day of Action

Then-General Abdul Fatah al-Sisi in 2013.

As the deadline of the army's ultimatum approached on 3 July, there was renewed expectation of an increase in violence, according to the media. As in other days, there were both anti-Morsi and pro-Morsi protests, the latter particularly in Nasr City and near Cairo University. Army tanks were reported to surround two smaller pro-Morsi rallies as the demonstrators vowed to defend the government with their lives.

As the 16:35 deadline set by the army approached, the coalition met with the military leaders for emergency talks, with the expectation that the army would issue a statement when the deadline passed. Mohamed El-Baradei, who was chosen to represent the National Salvation Front, was also said to have met army chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Morsi removal on 3 July

On 3 July, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, defense minister and commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, announced that he would be calling new presidential and parliamentary elections. The coalition appointed Chief Justice Adly Mansour as the interim president and charged him with forming a transitional technocratic government. Military vehicles drove throughout Cairo. Morsi was put under house arrest, and was believed to be at the Republican Guard barracks. According to other sources he was taken to a military base and his travel was restricted. Army troops and tanks were reported to have surrounded key facilities and installations. At noon, the Republican Guard, who had Morsi in their care, left his side to allow Army commandos to take him to an undisclosed Ministry of Defence building. He offered no resistance.

General al-Sisi said: "The president's speech last night failed to meet and conform with the demands [of the people, prompting the armed forces to consult] with some of the symbols of the national forces and the youths without excluding anyone. [They agreed on a road map] that includes initial steps that realize the building of a strong and coherent Egyptian society that does not exclude any of its sons and currents and that end the state of conflict and division." He added the army was standing apart from the political process but was using its vision as the Egyptian people were calling for help and discharged its responsibility. Al-Sisi named former Chief Justice Adli Mansour as the interim president and added that he would be sworn in on 4 July. The Shura Council was also dissolved. Morsi condemned his removal as a "full coup" by the general. He also urged everyone to "adhere to peacefulness and avoid shedding blood of fellow countrymen." The Office of Assistant to President of Egypt on Foreign Relations called Morsi's removal a "military coup", and said "there is no democracy without the ballot box".

Numerous international media outlets echoed statements that Morsi's removal was a "coup d'etat".

The announcement of the removal of Morsi was met with cheers in Tahrir Square. Anti-Morsi protesters shouted "Allahu akbar" and "Long live Egypt" and launched fireworks as green laser lights held by those in the crowd lit the sky. Mohamed el-Baradei argued that the removal of Morsi was to rectify the issues of the revolution. The Coptic Pope Tawadros II, Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb, Mohamed ElBaradei and some of the youth leaders of Tamarod, Mahmoud Badr and Mohamed Abdelaziz, spoke in support of the military intervention. The al-Nour party also commented in saying that the events occurred as they were not heard in their call for dialogue. Party Secretary-General Galal Murra commented that: "we took this position (on agreeing to the army political road map) and we took these decisions only so we stop the bloodshed of our people." Pro-Morsi protesters heard a statement from Morsi, which was published on his Facebook page. He called the move a "coup" and rejected the Armed Forces' statement.

The Freedom and Justice Party's Gamal Heshmat said: "There is absolutely no direction towards violence. The Brotherhood are not raised on violence. Their cause is a peaceful one, defending their rights, which is stronger than a military coup. The army has perpetrated a shameful coup. We are still in the street, we still don't know if all of the armed forces will accept what Sisi has done." A party spokesman said that what started as a "military cou"p was "turning into something much more." The National Salvation Front, an alliance of multiple political parties, stated on 4 July that "what Egypt is witnessing now is not a military coup by any standards. It was a necessary decision that the Armed Forces’ leadership took to protect democracy, maintain the country's unity and integrity, restore stability and get back on track towards achieving the goals of the January 25 Revolution."

Arrests

According to Morsi, he was kidnapped by the Armed Forces and held at the Republican Guard headquarters one day before the army announced his removal, and held there until 5 July 2013, after which he and his aide were forcibly moved to a naval base for the next four months. His family had stated earlier Morsi was kidnapped on 3 July 2013. The spokesperson of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Colonel Ahmed Ali later denied allegations that Morsi was badly treated, saying they had nothing to hide. The Egyptian Army later gave Catherine Ashton the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union permission to meet Morsi. Ashton later stated that Morsi was doing well: "Morsi was keeping up with the latest developments in the country through television and newspapers. So we were able to talk about the situation, and we were able to talk about the need to move forward. The people around him do care for him. I looked at the facilities." Morsi could later meet an African Union delegation too.

The army arrested the former speaker of parliament and the head of the Freedom and Justice Party, Saad El-Katatni, along with Rashad al-Bayoumi, a Muslim Brotherhood deputy, as well as other top leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Al-Jazeera quoted unnamed security officials saying that "more than a dozen" members of the Muslim Brotherhood had been arrested, while Al-Ahram reported that the Egyptian police had been ordered to arrest more than 300 members of the Muslim Brotherhood. A travel ban was also put on Morsi, the head of his Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie, Badie's deputy Khairat El-Shater, the Muslim Brotherhood's former leader Mahdi Akef, another Muslim Brotherhood figure Mohamed Beltagy, Salafi preacher close to the Muslim Brotherhood Safwat Hegazi and the leader of the al-Wasat Party, Abou Elela Mady and his deputy Essam Sultan. Badie and Akef were arrested for "incitement to murder."

Following Morsi's ouster, pro-Morsi supporters still gathered in Cairo stated that they would undo the "coup" and continued their allegiance to Morsi saying that they would "defend the integrity of the ballot box." Amidst threats of violence, Al Jazeera English reported the death of four people from a Muslim Brotherhood stronghold near the Libyan border.

Attempts to take down pro-Brotherhood media and incidents against journalists

Police forces made statements against four controversial pro-Brotherhood television channels and took them off the air. Misr 25, a channel owned by Muslim Brotherhood loyalists, was shut down and officials said that journalists working for the channel were arrested. The Al-Hafez and Al-Nas channels were shut down as well, but the latter has since been revived. A few hours later, Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, which had been criticized for its pro-Morsi slant, also had its offices raided and its employees detained. Five staff were arrested, including managing director Ayman Gaballah, who was still in custody after the others were released. It was also prevented from broadcasting a pro-Brotherhood protest in northern Cairo. The network has since moved to Doha.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that two journalists and one student died while covering pro-Morsi protests in the two weeks leading up to July 8, 2013. According to CPJ research, before those deaths, only four journalists had been killed in Egypt since 1992. One of the journalists who died while documenting the pro-Morsi protests was 26-year-old photographer Ahmed Assem el-Senousy, also known as Ahmed Samir Assem. The photographer was shot by a sniper after he recorded clashes between police and protesters. According to media reports, el-Senousy may have captured his own death on film. A video clip posted on his Facebook page shows a sniper firing on crowds before turning toward the camera, at which point the clip abruptly ends.

According to the CPJ, the BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, was hit in the head by shotgun pellets while reporting for the BBC. However, he escaped without major injury, and was taken away by his colleagues and bandaged up.

Aftermath

Islamist counter-protests

Supporters of the ousted President Morsi demonstrate in Damietta on 5 July 2013.

On 4 July, violence continued with over 100 people wounded and at least two deaths, believed to be that of children. The Muslim Brotherhood's spokesman called for "strictly peaceful" protests to defy the "military coup". The Armed Forces said that it would guarantee the right to peacefully protest. Other Islamist groups threatened armed retaliation, while the police arrested four armed men on 5 July over allegations that they had planned a reprisal attack, according to state-run Al-Ahram. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces added that it would protect all groups from revenge attacks and that Egyptian values "do not allow for gloating."

Protests after Friday prayers were called by Morsi supporters, now in opposition, and termed "Rejection Friday." That morning, troops fought pro-Morsi rioters at the Republican Guard headquarters in which Morsi was believed to be held, leading to 51 deaths. Pro-Morsi witnesses claimed that the military opened fire without provocation towards the end of morning prayers, immediately using live ammunition and shooting to kill. At least 51 people were killed and 435 were injured. Though the Egyptian Armed Forces denied firing at the protesters, BBC News reporter Jeremy Bowen argued that he saw soldiers firing on protesters. In Qena, rioters attempted to storm a security building, only for riot police to shoot at then, injuring two. Shots were also fired in Alexandria. This occurred as several Egyptians took to the streets to protest against the anti-Morsi uprising. While otherwise respecting all sides, the military also issued a statement warning Islamists who planned on protesting. Tamarod, which had organized anti-Morsi protests, called for protests to "protect the revolution." During the night, pro- and anti-Morsi demonstrators clashed over the 6th October Bridge; at least two people were killed and more than 70 people were injured, according to state television, who quoted medical personnel at a makeshift hospital in the square. At least three deaths were that of Morsi supporters during the march towards the military barracks after the Friday prayer in Cairo. In all, through the night of rioting, throughout the country 30 people were killed. Pro-Morsi demonstrators continued to call for protests. Protesters continued to demand the reinstatement of Morsi throughout the weekend, some of which were violent protests.

Palestinian officials in Gaza also said that the Egyptian Armed Forces had shut the Rafah border crossing and that only certain people, such as patients and students, would be allowed through. Egyptian Intelligence Service official Nader al-Asar telephoned Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh on the afternoon of 5 July and Haniyeh briefed him about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the restrictions on tunnels and the Rafah crossing. Al-Asar promised to seek remedies on the situation

After dawn prayers on 8 July, clashes erupted between pro-Morsi protesters and the army at the Republican Guard compound. According to the army, a militia tried to storm the compound, and one officer and 42 other people were injured. On the other hand, the Muslim Brotherhood claimed that 42 of its supporters were killed and over 300 were injured after shootings that followed the police storming their sit-in demanding the reinstatement of Morsi. Brotherhood member Mohamed Beltagy described the incident as a "massacre" during dawn prayers. After the incident, the Freedom and Justice Party called for "the international community and international groups and all the free people of the world [to] intervene to stop further massacres [...] and prevent a new Syria in the Arab world." The Nour party said it would suspend taking part in the political process as a response to the deadly clashes. And Ahmed el-Hawary, a founding member of the al-Dustour party and a member of the 30 June Front, said: "We cannot blame the Muslim Brotherhood without blaming the army. They are both held accountable for this catastrophe...The Brotherhood is playing victims to gain international sympathy yet losing whatever is left of the sympathy at home. A speedy formation of the new cabinet is essential at this point, and although consensus is critical. Egypt must not be the hostage of a concurrence based on non-pertinent arguments." At the same time, Morsi supporters were alleged to have forced two soldiers, Samir Abdallah Ali and Azzam Hazem Ali, to make pro-Morsi statements on a loudspeaker and that one of them was "severely beaten up" and filmed while making the statements. However, an army official later said that they had "managed to escape their captors."

On 8 July, following reports that many fighters in Syria were returning in support of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt slapped restrictions on Syrians entering the country and required them to obtain visas before entering the country. An arrest warrant was issued against Mohamed Badie also as the party refused to join a transitional government.The Muslim Brotherhood vowed to continue its resistance to the removal of Morsi. In a statement, it disavowed itself from an assassination attempt against a senior army commander in the Sinai Peninsula on 10 July and claimed that it adheres to "peaceful" measures. The statement also read: "We will continue our peaceful resistance to the bloody military coup against constitutional legitimacy. We trust that the peaceful and popular will of the people shall triumph over force and oppression." The public prosecutor issued a freeze on the assets of the Muslim Brotherhood's leaders, as well as other supporters pending investigations in ongoing cases related to events in al-Mokatam, al-Nahda square and the Republican Guards Club. This would affect Mohamed Badie, Khairat al-Shater, Mohamed Ezat, Mahi Ekef, Saed ElKatatni, Essam ElErian, Mohamed ElBeltagy and the Muslim Brotherhood's allies, including Essam Sultan, Assem Abdul Majed, Safwat Hegazy and Hazem Abu Ismail, will also be affected by the freeze.

In addition to continuing daily protests, the Muslim Brotherhood called for more protests after Friday prayers on 19 July. The protests were held in Cairo and Alexandria with two formations of fighter jets flying over both cities after noon prayers ended, and some military helicopters flew low over rooftops in Cairo. Among the tens of thousands of protesters present, they chanted "Islamic, Islamic" calling for an Islamic state. The protests again turned violent and fatal in Cairo and Qalyoub on 22 July. Morsi's family also held a press conference in Cairo in which his children accused the military of kidnapping him, as well as announcing local and international legal measures they had initiated against then-Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

14 August sit-in dispersal

Main article: August 2013 Cairo sit-ins dispersal

On 14 August 2013, Egyptian security forces raided two camps of protesters in Cairo: one at al-Nahda Square and a larger one at Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque. The two sites had been occupied by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, who was removed from office by the military after mass street protests against him. The camps were raided by force after initiatives to end the over one-month-old sit-ins by peaceful means failed, when protesters attacked police.

According to the Egyptian Health Ministry, 638 people were killed on 14 August, of which 595 were protesters and 43 were police officers, with at least 3,994 injured. However, the Muslim Brotherhood and National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy (NCSL) claimed that 2,600 people were killed. Violent retaliation followed in several cities across the country. The interim government declared a month-long state of emergency to prevent further protests, and curfews were instituted in many areas. The total casualty count made 14 August the deadliest day since the 2011 Egyptian revolution which toppled Hosni Mubarak.

A poll by the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research later showed that 67% of Egyptians were satisfied about the method in which the Rabaa al-Adaweya and Nahda sit-ins were dispersed.

Violence against Coptic Christians

After Morsi's overthrow, Egypt's Christian minority, a reported 6–to–12% of the population, had been the target of sectarian divide tactics by pro-Brotherhood and other Islamist groups over their support for the uprising and the subsequent removal of Morsi from office. On 5 July 2013 — two days after Morsi was ousted—pro-Morsi mobs rampaged through the Christian village of Nagaa Hassan, burning dozens of homes, ransacking stores and stabbing to death at least four people. This included the pro-revolution Christian activist Emile Naseem, who was hacked and beaten to death. Dozens of Christian families sought protection in a local church.

In Port Said's al-Manakh, masked gunmen loyal to Morsi opened fire at the Mar Mina Church. Since 30 June, mobs carried out attacks on Christians in six out of Egypt's twenty-seven provinces. Churches across Egypt have canceled their evening Mass and social activities. Other incidents include Coptic Christian priest Mina Abboud Sharobeen being killed in an outdoor market.

Ramy Jan, a Christian journalist and Muslim Brotherhood supporter, claimed that Islamic violence against Copts was rather fabricated and that Muslims would not commit any type of sectarian violence. He dismissed all previously-mentioned incidents as "accusations" against Islamists, to which he reacted by starting the Christians Against the Coup movement in demand of "reestablishing democracy", joining with his movement the Islamist Anti-Coup Alliance. However, Jan's credibility, and that of the group he supposedly represented, was severely challenged when it was revealed that he was also in fact a member of the Egyptian Nazi Party.

Sinai insurgency

See also: Sinai insurgency

The day after Morsi was removed, extremist militants staged multiple attacks on security forces in the Sinai and Suez. One soldier was killed and two others were wounded at a police station near the local headquarters of military intelligence in Rafah as it was attacked by rocket fire. Attackers also fired rocket-propelled grenades at army checkpoints guarding El-Arish Airport. A protest by hundreds of people occurred in Al-Arish the day after the ouster with calls to form a war council to combat the army. Ten areas in north Sinai were witness to clashes, including the Central Security Force camp and a number of checkpoints along the ring road. The airport was also closed after being targeted by unidentified armed men.

In late July 2013, the Egyptian military launched "Operation Sinai" in an effort to quash the militants.

Further elections

A constitutional referendum was held in early 2014. 38.6% of eligible voters participated in the referendum, held between January 14th and January 15th; 98.2% of those who voted had voted in favor, with the rest voting against. This referendum reinstated the constitution with several amendments, allowing Egypt to return to the African Union later that year.

Later, a presidential election was held in late May 2014. A presidential run-off with only two candidates, the election, which saw a turnout of 47.5%, led to Abdel Fattah el-Sisi winning with 96.91% of the vote, compared to Hamdeen Sabahi's 3.09%. This election saw Egypt's first elected president since the 2013 events.

Then in late 2015, a parliamentary election was held. It saw the election of numerous parties to the House of Representatives, as well as 351 independent MPs. This election reinstated an elected legislature to the country after the removal of Morsi led to the suspension of the Shura Council.

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International

Supranational bodies

• African Union – A statement from the group read that its head, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, "observes that the removal of...Mursi [sic] was in violation of the provisions of the Egyptian Constitution and falls under the AU doctrine on unconstitutional changes of Government. [The Peace and Security Council (PSC)] will deliberate on the situation in Egypt and take the required decisions." It added of Dlamini-Zuma that "she is particularly concerned about the tension prevailing in the country and the risks that this situation poses to stability and security in Egypt as well as to the consolidation of its democratic process. [The AU's] principled position on unconstitutional changes of government" underscores the need "to find an appropriate response to the popular aspirations within the framework of legality and Egyptian institutions." Following debate on 5 July, the PSC made a decision to suspend Egypt over the ouster and added that it was sending a team of "high-level personalities" in order work toward restoring constitutional order.----
• European Union - High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: "I urge all sides to rapidly return to the democratic process, including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections and the approval of a constitution, to be done in a fully inclusive manner, so as to permit the country to resume and complete its democratic transition. I hope that the new administration will be fully inclusive and reiterate the importance of ensuring full respect for fundamental rights, freedoms, and the rule of law and will hold the authorities to account for this. I strongly condemn all violent acts, offer my condolences to the families of the victims, and urge the security forces to do everything in their power to protect the lives and well-being of Egyptian citizens. I call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint." During a visit to Cairo, Ashton met Morsi; she was able to confirm that the former leader was in good condition and that he was treated well.
• United Nations - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "At this moment of continued high tension and uncertainty in the country, the secretary-general reiterates his appeals for calm, non-violence, dialogue and restraint. An inclusive approach is essential to addressing the needs and concerns of all Egyptians. Preservation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and assembly remain of vital importance. In their protests many Egyptians have voiced deep frustrations and legitimate concerns. At the same time, military interference in the affairs of any state is of concern. Therefore, it will be crucial to quickly reinforce civilian rule in accordance with principles of democracy." He also called for "speedy resumption of civilian rule." He spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and "called for an end to all violence, especially sexual violence against women." High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged all parties to make a concerted effort to restore calm by ensuring that the human rights of all citizens are respected and protected and are subsequently entrenched in sound laws and institutions. She also urged Egypt to stop arbitrary detentions.

States

• Bahrain - King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa wrote to his Egyptian counterpart, Adly Mansour, "With great honor we take this opportunity to congratulate you on taking over the reins of power in Egypt at this important time in history. We are confident that you will take the responsibility to achieve the aspirations of the Egyptian people."
• Iraq - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's spokesman, Ali al-Moussawi, said that he expressed support for the Egyptian people's choices, while also congratulating the interim president, Adly Mansour. al-Moussawi said that Iraq is "looking forward to boosting bilateral relations" and is "certain that the new president will move on with the new plan in holding elections and safeguarding national reconciliation."
• Israel - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his cabinet ministers "not to release public statements or grant interviews," according to Haaretz. However, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz told Israeli Army Radio: "It is an Egyptian matter; we must worry about our own interests, and I am sure we are doing just that."
  • Former Ambassador to Egypt Eli Shaked said: "Instability is bad for Israel, period."
• Jordan — A government statement read that it respected the wishes of the Egyptian people as well as the role of the armed forces.
• Kuwait - Kuwait News Agency reported: "In his name and the country's name, His Highness expressed his congratulations to the president of the Republic of Egypt, for taking the lead during the transitional and historical stage." The country then also gave US$4 billion in aid following Morsi's removal.
• Palestine - The Fatah-President Mahmoud Abbas called on Palestinians "not to interfere in internal issues of Arab countries," which was read by the media as supportive of the ouster. PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi said: "I don't see this as a coup d'état. We see this as recognising the will of the people there for the armed forces serving and protecting the people as they should."
  • Gaza Strip - Hamas Member of Parliament in Gaza, Yahia Moussa said: "The [Hamas] movement does not interfere in Egyptian affairs [and has] no comment on the Egyptian army's decision to isolate President Morsi." A senior Hamas figure Ahmad Yousef, said: "We do not fear the fall of President Mohamed Morsy. [sic] We fear the dramatic changes that could cause things to go out of hand and lead to bloodshed. We only care about stability in Egypt regardless of who is in charge. Egypt is a lifeline to us; it's a major factor in the stability of the internal Palestinian situation -- it is our backbone."
• Qatar - Qatar was reported to be unhappy over the move after it spent about US$10 billion in financial aid towards the Morsi government; while they were said to also be unhappy about the closure of Al Jazeera's offices in Cairo. Yet the new emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, sent "a cable of congratulations" to the new interim president. The Foreign Ministry released a statement that read: "Qatar will continue to respect the will of Egypt and its people across the spectrum." After a month of protests and international mediation efforts, Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiya said that he had not been able to meet all those he was promised he could meet and that "my wish for the brothers in Egypt is to release the political prisoners as soon as possible because they are the key to unlocking this crisis. Without a serious dialogue with all the parties, and most importantly with the political prisoners because they are the main element in this crisis, I believe things will be difficult." Qatar also continued to send free shipments of oil that were promised under Morsi.
• Russia - The Foreign Ministry issued a statement that read: "We consider it important for all political forces in Egypt to exercise restraint...to consider the broad national interests of their actions, and to prove that they strive to solve the brewing political and socio-economic problems in a democratic framework, without violence, and accounting for the interests of all social groups and religious confessions."
• Saudi Arabia — King Abdullah was the first international head of state to send a message of congratulations to Interim President Adly Mansour. "In my own name and on behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I congratulate you on assuming the leadership of Egypt at this critical point of its history. By doing so, I appeal to Allah Almighty to help you to shoulder the responsibility laid on your shoulder to achieve the hopes of our sisterly people of the Arab Republic of Egypt. At the same time, we strongly shake hands with the men of all the armed forces, represented by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who managed to save Egypt at this critical moment from a dark tunnel God only could apprehend its dimensions and repercussions, but the wisdom and moderation came out of those men to preserve the rights of all parties in the political process. Please accept our greetings to you and deep respect to our brothers in Egypt and its people, wishing Egypt steady stability and security.
• Syria - President Bashar al-Assad told the newspaper Thawra that "whoever brings religion to use in politics or in favor of one group at the expense of another will fall anywhere in the world. The summary of what is happening in Egypt is the fall of what is called political Islam. You can't fool all the people all the time, let alone the Egyptian people who have a civilization that is thousands of years old, and who espouse clear, Arab nationalist thought. After a whole year, reality has become clear to the Egyptian people. The Muslim Brotherhood's performance has helped them see the lies the [organization] used at the start of the popular revolution in Egypt."
• Tunisia - The government of Tunisia condemned the "flagrant coup," with the then-ruling Islamist Ennahda Movement's leader Rachid Ghannouchi expressing his astonishment and said that the removal of Morsi would undermine democracy and feed radicalism.
• Turkey - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "No matter where they are...coups are bad. Coups are clearly enemies of democracy. Those who rely on the guns in their hands, those who rely on the power of the media cannot build democracy...Democracy can only be built at ballot box." He also criticised the West for not unanimously terming the actions as a coup, while praising the African Union's decision to suspend Egypt over the overthrow. "The West has failed the sincerity test. No offence, but democracy does not accept double standards." Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a televised statement that "The toppling of a government that came into office through democratic elections, through methods that are not legal – and what is worse, through a military coup – is unacceptable, no matter what the reasons". Hüseyin Çelik, a spokesman for the governing Justice and Development Party and former cabinet member in the Erdoğan administration, condemned the ouster as a sign of "backwardness" and accused unnamed Western countries of supporting Morsi's overthrow. "Some Western countries have not accepted Muslim Brotherhood's rise to power. They have mobilized the streets, then issued a memorandum, and are now staging the coup." He also advised Morsi's supporters to avoid any bloodshed in response.
  • The leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, also criticized Egypt's military over the ouster, "Staging a military coup to design societies is not a correct thing in the 21st century and it shouldn't be accepted."
• United Arab Emirates - Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that his government was "satisfied" with the developments in Egypt. Al Nahyan also praised the Egyptian army as a "strong shield" and a "protector," while expressing confidence that Egypt can overcome the crisis "to reach a safe and prosperous future."
• United Kingdom – Prime Minister David Cameron said that the United Kingdom "never supports intervention by the military. But what now needs to happen...in Egypt is for democracy to flourish and for a genuine democratic transition to take place and all the parties need to be involved in that. And that's what Britain and our allies will be saying very clearly to the Egyptians." Foreign Secretary William Hague said the United Kingdom "does not support military intervention as a way to resolve disputes in a democratic system." He also called the situation "dangerous" and called on all sides to "avoid violence" and resort to "a political process that includes all groups on an equal footing leading to early and fair elections which all parties are able to contest, and civilian-led government."
• United States –
  • President Barack Obama said that he was "deeply concerned" by the actions of Egypt's military and urged a return to democratic governance. He ordered his administration to review United States aid to Egypt. He added: "No transition to democracy comes without difficulty, but in the end it must stay true to the will of the people. An honest, capable and representative government is what ordinary Egyptians seek and what they deserve. The long-standing partnership between the United States and Egypt is based on shared interests and values, and we will continue to work with the Egyptian people to ensure that Egypt's transition to democracy succeeds."
  • The State Department also expressed concern over the military intervention and ordered the mandatory evacuation of its embassy in Cairo, while it issued a travel advisory that "the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members from Egypt due to the ongoing political and social unrest." On 5 July, State Department Spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said: "We call on all Egyptian leaders to condemn the use of force and to prevent further violence among their supporters. As President Obama said, we expect the military to ensure that the rights of all Egyptians are protected, including the right to peaceful assembly, and we call on all who are protesting to do so peacefully."
  • Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said on 15 July: "Only Egyptians can determine their future. I did not come with American solutions, nor did I come to lecture anyone. We know that Egyptians must forge their own path to democracy. We know that this will not mirror our own and we will not try to impose our model on Egypt. [The U.S. would] stand behind certain basic principles, not any particular personalities or parties." He also criticised the exclusion of Islamist parties from the political process: "If representatives of some of the largest parties in Egypt are detained or excluded, how are dialogue and participation possible?"
  • On 26 July, the United States said that it would not make a formal determination of whether the events in Egypt constituted a coup. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "The law does not require us to make a formal determination...as to whether a coup took place, and it is not in our national interest to make such a determination."
  • Republican Senator John McCain, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "We have to suspend aid to Egyptian military because the military has overturned the vote of the people. We cannot repeat the same mistakes that we made in other times of our history by supporting removal of freely elected governments." He added that once a timetable was arranged for a new election and a new constitution "we should evaluate whether to continue with aid or not." He was the first U.S. politician to refer to the events as a coup.
  • Representatives Ed Royce, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Eliot Engel, members of different parties released a statement that read:

    The decision by the Egyptian military to take state authority out of the hands of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood government marks another sharp turning point in Egypt's incomplete revolution. What the Brotherhood neglected to understand is that democracy means more than simply holding elections. Real democracy requires inclusiveness, compromise, respect for human and minority rights, and a commitment to the rule of law. Morsi and his inner circle did not embrace any of these principles and instead chose to consolidate power and rule by fiat. As a result the Egyptian people and their economy suffered greatly. It is now up to the Egyptian military to demonstrate that the new transitional government can and will govern in a transparent manner and work to return the country to democratic rule. We are encouraged that a broad cross-section of Egyptians will gather to rewrite the constitution. All parties in Egypt must show restraint, prevent violence, and prepare to be productive players in the future democratic Egypt. We encourage the military to exercise extreme caution moving forward and support sound democratic institutions through which the people and future governments can flourish.

  • Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said from Tel Aviv that the U.S. supports any democratic government in Egypt, and that such a commitment towards democracy is what pushed Obama to call for a swift peaceful transition of power.
  • Former Ambassador to Egypt Frank Wisner said:

    It wasn’t the military that plotted the seizure of the government and grabbed it. It was a massive public uprising that, left unchecked, would have produced great violence. It would have left the military in the miserable position of having to control those demonstrations by force. The cry from the crowd was they wanted new elections … to help decide the country's future, which has been so troubled. The military was faced with, genuinely overheated situation … It isn’t a coup in any classic sense and, yet, the military played a role in upsetting the government. We have to ask ourselves, then, finally, what are the interests of the United States? And here the president wisely has waiver authority and has to make a judgment. Egypt is the largest and most influential country in the Middle East. Egypt is central to peace with Israel. Egypt's fate will influence the course of politics elsewhere in the region. So we want to be very, very careful before we go out and condemn an event that has, by the most recent polling of Egypt's best pollsters, 80 percent support in the population. What is clear is the wave of anger against the government that drove Morsi from power, enjoyed massive, massive public support in the many, many millions of Egyptians.

  • The U.S. was planned to go ahead with the delivery of F-16 jets to Egypt.
  • United States Secretary of State John Kerry said that Egypt's army had "restored democracy" by removing Morsi from power.

    "The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people, all of whom were afraid of a descendance into chaos, into violence. And the military did not take over, to the best of our judgement - so far. To run the country, there's a civilian government. In effect, they were restoring democracy."

• Yemen – President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi congratulated his Egyptian counterpart, Adly Mansour, raising the ire of his Islamist coalition partners.
  • Hamid al-Ahmar, a leading member of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform, that supported Morsi since the movement was formed by members of the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood, said: "What happened in Egypt was an overturn of democracy. With sincere hearts, we should ask God to help Morsi."

Jihadists

• Al-Qaeda – Al-Qaeda's Egyptian leader Ayman al-Zawahiri commented in a video released on the Internet by criticizing the Islamists for losing power and not uniting to implement Sharia. He said: "The battle isn’t over, it has just started...the Islamic nation should offer victims and sacrifices to achieve what it wants and restore power from the corrupt authority governing Egypt."

Media

Syrian state-television carried live coverage of the anti-Morsi protests. It also said of the statement that "Syria's people and leadership and army express their deep appreciation for the national, populist movement in Egypt which has yielded a great achievement."

U.S. media noted that Obama did not call the removal of Morsi a coup. If the President of the United States refers to an incident as a coup, then U.S. law requires them to cut off military and economic aid to the country where the incident took place, such as int previous incidents in Mauritania, Mali, Madagascar and Pakistan. The U.S. funds 20% of Egypt's military costs (US$1.3 billion) and gives another US$250 million in economic aid. Al Jazeera claims that the refusal to term the events as a coup were tied with the U.S. stance in stopping military aid to countries that have perpetrated a coup.

The media noted that the UK government neither opposed the removal of Morsi, nor called for his regime to be restored to power. Some media reports referred to the events preceding the incident as another revolution or referred to the protest uprising as a revolution and the ouster as a coup. There was also debate as to whether the removal is a coup or not. This debate was significant on Wikipedia, where this article created a major debate between users, mainly over the title, which several users argued was biased.

Others

Egyptian Americans, particularly in the Arab-dominated areas of Michigan, had mixed views of the event, with some wary of the Muslim Brotherhood, but also wary of usurping democratic rights following Mubarak 30-year "dictatorship".

See also

• Islamist unrest in Egypt (2013–14)
• August 2013 Cairo sit-ins dispersal
• June 2013 Egyptian protests
• Egyptian Revolution of 2011
• Egyptian Revolution of 1952
• Egyptian Revolution of 1919

Further reading

• Al-Anani, Khalil; Malik, Maszlee (2013). "Pious Way to Politics: The Rise of Political Salafism in Post-Mubarak Egypt". Digest of Middle East Studies. 22 (1): 57–73. doi:10.1111/dome.12012.
• Brown, Nathan J. (3 July 2013). "Redoing the Egyptian Revolution: How to Get the Transition Right This Time". Foreign Affairs.
• Tadros, Mariz (2012). The Muslim Brotherhood in Contemporary Egypt: Democracy Defined or Confined?. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-46596-0.
• Weber, Peter C. (2013). "Modernity, Civil Society, and Sectarianism: The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the Takfir Groups". Voluntas. 24 (2): 509–527. doi:10.1007/s11266-012-9299-4.

Category:2013 in Egypt Category:2013 protests Category:Protest-related deaths Category:Protests in Egypt Category:Mohamed Morsi Category:Arab Winter in Egypt Category:Egyptian crisis (2011–2014)