A SMALL peaceful protest was all demonstrators could muster near to Tahrir Square to mark the fourth anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, and even that faced lethal force. Before it could reach the hub of Cairo’s bygone uprising, Shaimaa el-Sabbagh, a 32-year-old activist from a new left-wing party, had been fatally shot in the back with birdshot. A few of her colleagues were arrested and released the next day.Egypt’s police say they had nothing to do with her death. They claim to have only used tear-gas, blaming instead the Muslim Brotherhood for a series of explosions and protests in which 23 other people died the following day.The turrets of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s armoured cars, aimed straight ahead, are for the most part deterrence enough against protest. A few activists hazard a tweet indoors. A ceiling of fear, the lifting of which was celebrated by Egyptians four years ago, has descended again. “The risks are just too high,” says a 28-year-old pharmacist and erstwhile demonstrator.After four roller-coaster years, many Egyptians meekly welcome a bit of calm. Some have begun to see dividends. More than 9m tourists brought much needed hard...
From The Economist: Middle East and Africa
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