Anniversary of Egyptian revolution marked

By Emily Busse

CEDAR RAPIDS - A year ago, Husam Habeeb was in Cairo's Tahrir Square, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against Egypt's regime.

During several weeks of protests, the 29-year-old said he saw three people die because of police violence.

Last night, Habeeb was among a smaller crowd, as more than 50 people attended the Celebration of the First Anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution for Democracy. The newly-formed Egyptian-American Community of Iowa hosted the event at the Muslim American Society, 2121 N. Towne Lane NE.

Attendees, including Marion Mayor Allen “Snooks” Bouska, ate traditional Egyptian food, spoke in support of the Egyptian revolution, and shared ideas of how to stay involved as the country evolves.

Children at the event ran around with the red, white, and black colors of the country's flag painted on their cheeks.Attendees also wore red wristbands that read “I love Egypt,” and chairs and tableswere decorated with red streamers and balloons.

Ibrahim Shehata, one of the founders of the Egyptian-American Community of Iowa, said last night's event was the first of many the group plans to host in order to garner support and involvement in Egypt's transformation. Both Egyptian-Americans and non-Egyptian Americans are encouraged to participate, he said.

“People will be more understanding, more involved, and more knowing of one another and knowing of the different cultures,” Shehata said.

Ayman Amer, Associate Professor of Economics at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, said group members want as much support as possible in the “establishment of a new Egypt.”

“We invited every Egyptian in the state of Iowa, and maybe we didn't reach all of them, but we will,” Amer said.

Both Shehata and Amersaid they participated in the recent Egyptian elections by mailing their votes to the country's embassy.

Islam Tatish, a neurologist at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, said the group contacted the Egyptian consulate in Chicago,and it gave members suggestions of how to support the country. For example, the group might raise money to help invest in agricultural projects in Egypt, he said.

“Now it really feels that this country belongs to us,” Tatish said.

Although many attendees at last night's event are optimistic, Habeeb said there is much, much more to be done amid Egypt's transformation.

“I'm frustrated because there is not a major change in Egypt,” said Habeeb, who is now studying marketing management on a six-month scholarship at Kirkwood Community College.

Habeeb recalled the bombs, tear gas, and rubber bullets used during the protests. He said the government also encouraged parents of young protesters to try to get their children to come home in order to “split up families.” In fact, he recalled his own mother crying on the telephone as she tried to convince him to abandon the revolution and his father promising he would disown him if he didn't return.

Habeeb said many of the protesters' original objectives to fight poverty, corruption, and inequality have yet to be achieved. But Habeeb, who has a three-year-old son, said there is still hope.

“We are planting the seeds of freedom for our children,” he said. “If we don't succeed, we hope our children can complete it.”