An Egyptian animation artist and dentist has been arrested by authorities after being accused of spreading false information and allegedly misusing social media.[1]
Ashraf Hamdi was snatched from his home after publishing a cartoon dedicated to protesters who died in scuffles with police in November 2011 on Mohammed Mahmoud Street, next to Tahrir Square and near to the Interior Ministry building.
Many are concerned that the arrest was politically motivated, and people are in the dark as to the whereabouts and condition of the talented cartoon creator. Hamdi has over three million subscribers on his YouTube channel Egyptoon.[2]
The arrest coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, which saw the long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak overthrown after weeks of nationwide protests, and which saw later elections across the country electing the Freedom and Justice Party to power.
The most recent social media post by Hamdi on Facebook simply reads: “I am getting arrested.”[3]
The 2011 Revolution was short-lived, as only two years later, the first and last democratically elected leader in Egypt’s known history, the late Dr. Mohamed Morsi (raḥimahu Allāhu), was ousted in a coup instigated by the-then Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and current coup President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Hamdi’s Egyptoon YouTube videos regularly receive large viewings, with many videos having millions of views. He focuses on political and social topics that affect Egypt and the wider Arab world, and one of his most recently published cartoons prior to his arrest, includes a character who describes feeling prevented from expressing his thoughts, and having a desire for the revolution to continue and to prosper.
“I am the voice when the world wants silence. I’m the one who stood in the face of injustice, corruption, tyranny. I am the one who called for peace, bread, freedom and social justice. I am the one who smiled while I was being shot at. I am the one whose blood was pouring on the ground and was stepped on.”
“I am the one, who in the middle of feeling frustration and feeling broken, am telling people that futility is betrayal. We will continue the journey. I am the one who is standing in front of you with all glory, but in reality we will continue.”[4]
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the president since 2014, has been responsible for a violent and constant crackdown on those who criticise his rule, on those who are supporters of the late Dr. Morsi and of the Muslim Brotherhood. He is widely held responsible for the detainment and torture of thousands. In addition, he has not even shown mercy towards children, ordering police to round up 111 minors (11- to 17-year-olds) in early October 2019, alone.[5]
As Najia Bounaim, Amnesty International’s North Africa Campaigns Director, said in 2019,
“President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s government has orchestrated this crackdown to crush the slightest sign of dissent and silence every government critic…”
“The wave of unprecedented mass arrests, which included many who were not even involved in the protests, sends a clear message – anyone perceived to pose a threat to Sisi’s government will be crushed.” [5]
Unfortunately, a decade on from the resounding victory of Dr. Morsi and of the popular backing that swept him and the Freedom and Justice Party to the top of Egypt’s government, al-Sisi is effectively continuing on where the tyrant, Hosni Mubarak left off after spending 30 years as Egypt’s head of state.
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-egypt-uprising-anniversary-arrests/egypt-arrests-cartoonist-on-10th-anniversary-of-uprising-sources-say-idUSKBN29U1NI
[2] https://www.youtube.com/user/Egyptoon
[3] https://www.facebook.com/Dr.AshrafHamdi2/posts/1353710171653297
[4] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-cartoonist-arrested-video-january-revolution
[5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/2/biggest-crackdown-under-sisi-condemned-after-thousands-arrested
Shaheer is a regular contributor for Islam21c. He maintains a strong interest in current affairs, as well as the changing global conditions of Muslim populations. Prior to joining Islam21c, he developed a number of years’ experience in the health and social care sector and has previously volunteered at the Muslim Youth Helpline.