April 25: Your crimes will not go unpunished… Freedom for detainees… Down with military rule

Statement by the Revolutionary Socialists

The rabid security crackdown continues in response to the success of the “Friday of the Land” protests amidst an unprecedented state of division and confusion within the corridors of the regime, its security apparatus, and state institutions. As of the writing of this statement, hundreds of young people are being held in illegal detention centers in Cairo and several other governorates after most of them were abducted off the streets during ongoing random arrest campaigns. This is in addition to a large number of young political activists and student leaders who were forcibly taken from their homes in recent days. Most have yet to be presented to the prosecution in blatant violation of their distorted constitution.

Through this miserable show of security might, the regime seeks to project unity in front of its opponents and the masses. These masses have witnessed broad segments shift from blind loyalty to Sisi to opposing him in less than three years—years marked by systematic, brutal repression and utter failure on all fronts: economic, security, political, and even foreign relations. In this context, the recent wave of public mobilization has cracked open a window of hope in the wall of despair, a wall the counter-revolution had once diligently fortified with massacres and prisons. Today, that wall shows visible cracks.

This is not to suggest that the counter-revolution is collapsing or that its project is entering its final days—not at all. Despite the internal conflicts within the regime, the fractures within the ruling coalition, and Sisi’s domestically and internationally shaken image, hostility toward the masses and their movements remains a unifying factor among today’s adversaries. What we emphasize is that the regime is significantly strained and deeply confused. Its ongoing security crackdown—intended to intimidate dissenters, suppress the growing wave of protests ahead of the April 25 demonstrations, and project an image of cohesion—has ultimately achieved the opposite of its goals.

Over the past week, despite relentless chases and mass arrests, prosperous and promising joint actions have been organized, with notable participation from various population segments. Several university students managed to organize campus activities after a long hiatus, and most political parties and movements have launched a broad joint campaign in preparation for April 25 and beyond. Meanwhile, the media has leaked furious statements attributed to Sisi, in which he reportedly criticized what he called the “soft security handling” of the “Friday of the Land” protesters. This was followed by an official presidential statement denying the remarks and rebuking the media outlets that published them. Simultaneously, the National Security Agency was granted free rein to arbitrarily arrest hundreds and target young political and student activists with abductions, chases, and fabricated charges.

On the one hand, the regime’s mounting crises and the relative success achieved recently by opposition forces in terms of mobilization and organization present opportunities that must be seized. However, these same factors also pose significant challenges for us and all political forces and independent activists engaged in the struggle against the sale of the two islands. Chief among these challenges is responding thoughtfully to the ongoing security crackdown and preparing for a prolonged battle to reclaim the streets as a first step toward reclaiming the revolution.

We will participate vigorously in the April 25 demonstrations and call on the Egyptian masses—students, workers, people experiencing poverty, and revolutionaries—to join, protest, and stand against Sisi’s repressive and barbaric policies.

Freedom for the detainees… Down with military rule.