In a recent decades, there was a significant growth in the population of Egypt. As a result, in a reality that Government failed to provide enough sources, such as shelter, food and job possibilities for an enormous number of young people, there was a growth in poverty percentage, too. According to United Nations figures around 20-30% of Egyptians live below the poverty line. It is not much surprising, that in such circumstances, the role of Islam becomes cruel and important, as people are trying to find some solace in their live.
The “Muslim brotherhood”, a banned organization in Egypt, takes it’s perks from the situation. Their reputation rises along with the rising number of poor people. Neither Egyptian Army (which is perhaps the only institution in Egypt, that enjoys respect of citizens) nor other regional powers are interested in having yet another analogue of Iran, especially the kind that practising Sunni Islam, with a danger, that ideology can be spreader around the whole region.
In my view, there are two options to save the situation. The first, simply require a huge and continuous investments into Egyptian economy. Second is to find a way to adjust and change the form of the protest against the unfairness and poverty.
Before the events in Tunis and especially Egypt it was hard to believe, that public fear towards the Government will be broken, and people will march out to the streets, looking for their demands to be met. Recent events will change the form of protests against injustice. From now on, to resolve and show their disagreement to any social problem, people will get out to the streets, and here is when the ties between protest and religion will be loosened. In Egypt’s case, influence of the “Muslim brotherhood” and in general influence of any powers related to Islam will see a decrease. They will lose their reputation and even the reason to remain active. Related type of changes can be used to the form of protest against injustice in foreign affairs too.
When the United States launched a war against Iraq, the role of Islam in Muslim countries increased, as did number of worship places, since it was the only way to express protests. After mentioned events in Tunis and Egypt, one can come to conclusion, that if the United States or Israel will add some pressure to the countries of Middle East, the protest against that pressure won’t turn to be an Islam-related. Hence, the fear, that some controversial powers, misinterpreting Islam, will become a treat, is abolished too, because the form of protest has been changed….
