A young Egyptian activist continues to fight after the resignation of Mubarak.
By David Goldman and Max Templin
Fighting against injustice usually comes with consequences. Nobody knows this better than Wael Ghonim, Egyptian computer engineer turned revolutionary. Ghonim sacrificed his own personal safety when he joined the fight against the tyranny of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Ghonim was a threat to the regime because he harnessed the power of social media to unite citizens under a common cause. His social media activism helped to take down the oppressive rule of Mubarak, who was just one ruler in a string of dictators that had possessed a chokehold over Egypt since 1953.
A common theme among revolutionary movements is that they only succeed through organization and relentless passion. The passion and desire for a new Egypt were already there, but Ghonim was able to use his social media expertise to add organization to the movement.
After a man named Khaled Saaed was nearly beaten to death by police in Cairo, Ghonim sprang into action. He created a Facebook page called “We are all Khaled Saaed.” It united Egyptian citizens and showed the rest of the world how the Egyptian government oppressed its people.
The page was an instant hit. Thousands of Egyptians used the page to voice their frustrations with Mubarak and the government.
Protests also began in the streets of Egypt. These protests led to more challenges for Ghonim.
Ghomim had put himself in harm’s way to be a voice for the people. Although he was leading the group anonymously, the government was able to track him down. In 2011, Ghonim was kidnapped, beaten, arrested and held in a high-security prison for 11 days.
Ghonim’s social media project had created a firestorm of resistance across the nation, and the Egyptian government had no choice but to bow to the demands of the citizenry.
By the time Ghonim was released, Mubarak had stepped down and surrendered his rule of Egypt. It was a groundbreaking moment in history and ended a 30-year span of human rights violations. It was “one of the most incredible moments of my life, “ said Ghonim.
Since the revolution, Mubarak’s replacements have not provided justice and freedom to the people of Egypt, Ghonim said. However, he said he remains hopeful that the movement he helped start will continue to have a ripple effect and eventually make a permanent change.
“If you are capable of doing anything [to help move closer to a solution], then it is not a waste,” said Ghonim. “The collective effort is what will count in the end.”