What would it take to clear Cairo’s sit-ins?
Egyptians at the Rabaa sit-in wonder if a deal between the Brotherhood and government would answer their demands.
Cairo, Egypt – It’s been over five weeks since tens of thousands of Egyptians started camping out in sit-ins, calling for the reinstatement of deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
The pro-Morsi vigils at Nasr City’s Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque and outside Cairo University in Giza have attracted much media attention, large crowds, at the former more than the latter, and acrimony.
Earlier this week, a columnist at a local newspaper called for Cairo zoo lions and tigers to be let loose on the nearby Giza sit-in. And residents in buildings engulfed by the Rabaa sit-in have taken to the media – social and mainstream – to complain about having to navigate their lives through the crowds and rambling rows of tents.
Although the office of interim president Adly Mansour has stated that efforts of international envoys to help ease the situation have failed, there are daily reports and rumours of meetings between Islamist groups and the military with the aim of resolving the deadlock.
Al Jazeera went to the Rabaa sit-in to ask those participating in the vigil if they would leave the sit-in if the Muslim Brotherhood reach a deal with the military and interim government or if there was a televised address by Morsi submitting his resignation:
| Mahmoud Saeed, 49, Civil Engineer |
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They will not reach such an agreement with the government.
Even if this happens, I won’t leave the square – I’m here to support the legitimacy [of Morsi’s election].
If Morsi tells us to leave and he’s doing it of his own free will, I will accept it.
The evidence that he’s saying it of his of free will is that up until now, when he’s been under arrest – kidnapped – he hasn’t said such a thing.
| Amal Mahmoud, 40, Teacher |
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The revolution now belongs to all Egyptians, not just to the Muslim Brotherhood.
I think the Brotherhood would not agree on a deal because they would lose all their grassroots support.
I won’t accept any televised statement of resignation, because this will only happen under unethical pressure.
He [Morsi] swore that he would preserve legitimacy and we’re here to support him on that.
| Asma Osma, 34, Nurse |
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No, I won’t leave and I won’t agree to any kind of deal or agreement that doesn’t include Morsi coming back to his position.
Doing that would mean the country has gone back go pre-January 25 [2011] and I won’t accept a deal that takes the country back to the era of corruption and no accountability.
Egyptians have stood in lines to vote in six elections and referendums in the past two years, and any agreement that doesn’t include Morsi coming back puts those votes in the rubbish bin.
I won’t accept a televised statement and I don’t think Morsi will do that – he will keep on persisting.
| Aiws El-Tibi, 56, Civil Engineer |
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No, I would not accept such a compromise. I won’t leave until Morsi comes back.
If the Muslim Brotherhood says there’s a deal, I won’t accept it.
But if Morsi does a televised statement telling us to leave, then I will leave.
| Ahmed Abu Shaba, 31, Lawyer |
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Any Muslim Brotherhood decision will be irrelevant. What’s relevant is the ballot box I put my vote into.
I won’t even accept a televised statement from Morsi submitting his resignation.
I’ll only accept it if he comes to Rabaa and submits his resignation here.
I don’t care even if a civil war breaks out – I insist on [the restoration of Morsi’s] legitimacy.
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