Egypt's Elections Resume, Violence Subsides
Egypt’s second parliamentary run-off elections resumed Wednesday, in light of subsiding clashes between protesters and the military that have been going on for six days.
The elections have been dominated by two leading Islamic parties, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi Al Nour party.
The run-off elections will occur in nine provinces on Thursday and Friday. The Muslim Brotherhood dominated the second round of parliamentary elections with 39 percent of the vote.
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Critics argue the military regime is planning on maintaining firm government control after the votes are counted. Although its close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood would affirm this prediction, recent clashes show an overwhelming amount of Egyptian citizens want the military regime replaced with a democratic government.
Clashes began Friday of last week, when a small sit-in of protesters turned violent when the military intervened.
The violence quickly escalated, leaving at least a dozen dead and hundreds injured. YouTube videos show soldiers dragging a young women through the streets, pulling off her shirt and kicking her.
The violence toward the woman sparked a 10,000-woman march through Cairo Tuesday, in which women carried the photo of the half-naked woman beaten by police.
The massive amount of women protesting against the ruling military could prove detrimental to the regime, especially from an international perspective.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton already condemned the violence, saying in a speech Monday, “This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonors the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform, and is not worthy of a great people.”
An apologetic statement made by the military council indicates concern that such massive protests would shed a bad light on their treatment of women.
“The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces expresses its utmost sorrow for the great women of Egypt, for the violations that took place during the recent events,” the council said in a statement.
“It stresses its great appreciation for the women of Egypt and for their right to protest and to actively, positively participate in political life on the path of democratic transition.”
