Ismailia, E-day

This photograph was taken in Midan El Mamar, the center of the demonstrations during the 25 January Revolution in Ismailia. There are still military tanks stationed in the Midan.

Ismailia is half way between Port Said (to the north, on the Medterrain Sea) and Suez (to the south) and is the base of Egypt's second army. Ismailia is the hometown of Hasan Al-Bana, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. Compared to Cairo, Ismailia is a small city (10-20 million vs. less than 1 million).
Nicholas Kristof recently reported from the city.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/kristof-Democracy-in-the-Muslim-Brotherhoods-Birthplace.html

I traveled to Ismailia yesterday to witness the second-round of Egyptian parliamentary elections taking place in the city. I was surprised by the general lack of election-fever in the city. From what I observed, there was no campaigning outside of polling stations-- which is illegal by Egyptian law, but nevertheless took place during the first round of elections in Cairo. Like Cairo, however, there were campaigns posters dotting all of the walls in the city too.

I was surprised by the reach of the April 6th movement's "White Circle, Black Circle" campaign in the city. I had only seen black circles in Cairo, not white circles. In contrast, both black and white circles were spray-painted in abundance around the city center. The circles were not necessarily painted on campaign posters.
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt-elections-2011/muslim-brotherhood-stronghold-sees-possible-vote-split-dp1.html

V for Vendetta

Over the past few weeks, I have noticed the emergence of "V" street-art in Cairo in reference to the film V for Vendetta.

The street-art focuses primarily around the letter V which has been transformed into the letter A by the Ultras Ahly, giving the film spoof a uniquely Cairo quality. There phrase "Remember, Remember the 19th of November," a spoof of the film's phrase "Remember, Remember the 5th of November," is also spray-painted on the streets. The mask itself has not been worn at any demonstrations (unlike at the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York where apparently such an act is illegal in the US http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904194604576581171443151568.html).

I first watched the film V for Vendetta a few months ago here in Cairo. I had intended to watch it years ago-- I had the DVD in my possession last spring, but had to return it to Netflix before finishing it because my free-trial expired. In Egypt I watched a pirated copy that an Egyptian friend lent me, he had watched the film shortly after its release but still had it saved on his laptop. As the Arabic subtitles rolled across the screen, chants from Maglis Al Sha'ab sit-in were audible in the distance: Remember, Remember? How could you ever forget.

Located on the side of the 6th of October bridge in El Geziera, this stencil is by the street-artist Ganzeer. I took the photograph the first weekend in December, although it's been here since my arrival in early August. 

This photograph was taken in front of the Mugamma on Saturday 26 November during the recent Tahrir clashes. Since then the V has been spray-painted next to the words (and the letter M in november added). 

In the Sadat metro (under Midan Tahrir). This V is quite popular and can be found around the city. 

On Qasr Al-Aini St., near Midan Tahrir.
Is the black circle a reference to the April 6th movement's "White Circle, Black Circle" awareness campaign? Is V triumphing over El Feloul (the remnants of the old regime)?
There is no fist (a sign for the April 6th movement) to definitively indicate that it is in fact a part of the campaign. 

On Qasr Al-Aini St., near Midan Tahrir.
The Ultras Ahly (the football fan club of the major ) have spoofed on the V signature. Flipping the letter upside down, the letter A represents Ahly. The Ahly A is very popular (more popular than the V) and can be found around Cairo.





















On Qasr Al-Aini St., near the Maglis Al-Sha'ab sit-in.



Here the same A is used in the infamous acronym ACAB. This A had not previously been used in this acronym. On the on Qasr Al Aini St., near Midan Tahrir.

El Feloul

UPDATE, Friday 18 November 2011:

A great article listing new political parties dominated or established by former NDP members.

http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/3163/meet-the-national-democratic-party-offshoots

UPDATE, Tuesday 15 November 2011:

Former NDP members are officially allowed to run in elections.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/26636.aspx

Translation: "No to the remnants [of the old regime, i.e. former NDP members]" (La llfeloul)

This photo was taken near the Ezbet El Nakhl metro station (approximately 35 minute metro ride from downtown).

The April 6th movement began a campaign-- "White Circle, Black Circle"-- identifying former NDP members or remnants (feloul) of the old regime. The movement paints a black circle over the campaign posters of former NDP members. "White Circle" represents that a candidate must have a "clean" past. The NDP was officially dissolved by court order on 16 April 2011, but some former members have joined other political parties (a former NDP official-- Hossam Badrawi-- even started his own party) and others are running as independent candidates.

http://bikyamasr.com/42722/white-circle-black-circle-aims-to-expose-egypts-ndp-candidates-in-hiding/

http://bikyamasr.com/43028/former-ndp-leader-granted-approval-for-new-party/

It is worth noting that the former NDP headquarters located on the Nile, off of Midan Tahrir, were ransacked and burned during the Revolution. The building has yet to be restored or re-occupied.

The April 6th movement also created a website "Emsek Feloul" (Catch the Feloul) to identify former members of the NDP running in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Candidates are identified by geographic region.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/24402/Egypt/Politics-/Website-fingers-former-regime-figures.aspx

The April 6th movement is not a political party, but rather a political movement. April 6th played a large role in the 25 January Revolution; it was founded in 2008 to organize labor protests.

Translation: "April 6th"

The fist is a part of the April 6th movement's logo.

I took this picture near the Helmeyet El-Zaitoun metro station (approximately 25 minute metro ride from downtown).