Jai ho Mubarak goes, what next?

Mohamed Tanveer 
The peaceful protests across Egypt have been consecrated with success! Demonstrations marked by non-violent behavior that constituted a national uprising in Egypt, to remove oppression and tyranny. At last Mubarak goes. What’s the future of Egypt?

The peaceful protests across Egypt have been blessed with success! Demonstrations marked by non-violent behavior that constituted a national uprising in Egypt, to remove oppression and tyranny, have achieved more in just 18 days than Al-Qaida-like terrorism has done in decades.

The Egyptian example shows the world how struggle can be translated from the hearts of Muslims, onto the social media and finally, overcoming apathy and fear, taking to the streets.

A Day of Wrath was initially organized on January 25, 2011 calling for an end to Mubarak's oppressive police state and demanding his stepping down from the post.

Protests continued for a further eighteen days with sustained momentum until February 11, 2011, when the president finally stepped down relinquishing power.
From day one, in a rare show of force, protestors took to the streets in hundreds of thousands across Egypt.

These protests were organized through the social media in defiance of, among other things, the Egyptian government's Emergency Law, shaking the government to its core. Demanding the protests should end, the regime tried to get the people off the streets but they continued protesting and on the following Tuesday millions flowed through the streets of Egypt united in one call for the removal of Mubarak.

The initial violence, police crackdowns, thugs, and brutality at the hands of the security apparatus and pro-Mubarak supporters, only strengthened the people's resolve to persist in the demonstrations until their demands were met.

There has been a network of help and support by everyday Egyptians for the protestors. Tahreer Square is also now known as 'Tahreer City' as people fill the square handing out tents, blankets, tea, food and other necessities to the hard-core protestors. Masses of youth, armed with laptops and mobile phones, headed the demonstrations, organizing, supporting, motivating and persevering.

Thousands of die-hard pro-democracy protestors also filled the streets of Alexandria, Suez, Port Said and other cities and towns around Egypt. The patience, endurance, and determination of people all over the country have rendered this an unprecedented peaceful, positive and successful uprising, in one of the most volatile regions of the world.

The energy, positivity and hope that were generated at the protests were sufficient for many police officers to swap sides and join the demonstrators. After struggling under the Emergency Law and all the corruption, stagnating bureaucracy and brutality of Mubarak's regime for nearly three decades, the people decided enough was enough, and with a spirit of determination asserted their claims and refused to back down.

Behind the scenes and supporting the protesters' struggle for democracy and social justice, and representing the true face of Islam, the MB has supported the demonstrations that succeeded in ousting Mubarak and removing him from his power that has spelt oppression and poverty for most Egyptians for three decades.

As Mubarak steps down, the next phase of the revolution begins to unfold. There is a lot of work yet to be done in making the reforms, rewriting the Constitution, and regaining stability and economic recovery but if the spirit and positivity of the Egyptian people continues, the process will continue to be smooth and successful.

As many countries in the region have populations struggling under autocratic power, the example of the Egyptian Revolution is a precedent for the method of procuring peaceful change in countries where change is badly needed.

The largest opposition and the force behind the uprising in Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood has also issued a statement.
In its statement the MB hailed the people and applauded the real heroes of the Historical People's Revolution stressing that the revolution proved successful following the people's united stance and sacrifices.

It cheered each and every Egyptian including men, women, children, Muslims and Christians describing the joyful news as a new dawn for all Egyptians free from the tyranny and oppression of Mubarak and his regime.
The MB reminds the masses that the great revolution could not have come about without the inevitable sacrifices referring to the young men and women who paid their lives so that others may live. The statement extended the MB's heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims reminding them that the blood of their loved ones did not go to waste.

The MB sincerely thanks and commends the Army which continued to demonstrate mature understanding of the situation acknowledging the army's patience and tolerance in dealing with the people. It added the army has continued to work in favour of the people and the people trust that the army will continue this during the transitional period to work in favour of each and every Egyptian in a peaceful manner to establish a civil state and legislative institutions chosen by the people through free, fair and transparent elections.

The MB asserts that the coming days will prove to be just as trying as the preliminary stages during the revolution however just as the youths proved to be resilient during the first stages they will also succeed in promoting progress, justice, freedom and respect of human rights to fight any further injustices.
The MB concluded its statement asserting that through mutual respect and unity Egypt will prosper to restore its glory and be a nation comprised of people from all walks, sects, colour creed and religion living in peaceful and tranquil harmony.

What Next?

Now, with the army in charge, all bets are off. Israel has closed their embassy in Cairo following news of Mubarak's stepping down. 
U.S. President Barack Obama said the sudden conclusion to Mubarak's 30-year rule was not "the end of Egypt's transition. It's the beginning."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy correspondingly hailed what he called Egypt's "historic moment" and paid tribute to Mubarak's decision to resign.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement issued a statement extending its congratulations to the Egyptian people for "their historic triumph in achieving this revolution," while the militant Islamic group Hamas called it a "victory" not only for Egypt but for Palestinians as well.

"If democracy wins in Egypt, there will be more of a threat to Iran," said Abbas Milani, director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University.

James Woolsey, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, agreed, saying there will be institutions and people trying to undermine" the chance for freedom in Egypt.
"I think first among them will be Iran and Iran working with the Muslim Brotherhood the way they work with Hamas in Gaza," he said.

"Everybody is reading this differently," said Muravchik, author of "The Next Founders: Voices of Democracy in the Middle East."

"Iranians think this is going to turn into an Islamist takeover in Egypt and if they're right they will have to be happy, at least in the short run," he said. "I think they'll end up unhappy in the long run because I think it will end in an intra-Islamist struggle."Muslim brotherhood is raising another issued now stating the "The revolution will truly be over once all responsible for the deaths be investigated, tried and punished and Egypt's stolen funds restored".

More over look in to the statement issued by the so called extremist group Muslim brotherhood. They are hailing the Muslims and Christians together as the responsible tool for the topple of Mubarak chapter.

Thus seems a mammoth start of a new rising. Fathi Surur, who has been parliament speaker since 1990, is probably one of the last people most opposition leaders would want running the government. Or it it will be Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei or any one from MB?