//Skip to content
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

25 Iconic Photos of Egypt’s January 25 Revolution

January 24, 2016

On January 25, 2011, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians poured into the streets to demand an end to Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year grip on power, as well as poverty, unemployment and police brutality. The revolution, propelled by the success of anti-government protests in Tunisia, lasted 18 days, during which citizens of all walks of life demonstrated in several of Egypt’s cities. On February 11, Mubarak ultimately acquiesced to the protesters’ demands and stepped down from his position as president and the military was mandated with temporarily handling the country’s affairs.

jan25
A protester holds up a banner in front of a line of riot police in downtown Cairo. Photo credit: unkown
A protestor clashes with anti-riot police. Photo credit: unknown
A protester clashes with anti-riot police. Photo credit: unknown
Plainclothes police beat protesters in Cairo. Photo: Goran Tomasevic, Reuters
Plainclothes police beat protesters in Cairo on January 28, 2011. Photo: Goran Tomasevic, Reuters
cf651d6c344899d6c821c453b0075d14
A masked protester throws a gas canister towards Egyptian riot police, not seen, near the Interior Ministry during clashes in downtown Cairo. Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill, AP
3_108473126
Riot police force protesters back across the Kasr al-Nile bridge. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
jan28egyptian-kisses-cop
An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot police officer following clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, January 28, 2011. Photo: Lefteris Pitarakis, AP
2011_Egypt_protests_-_graffiti_on_military_vehicle
An Egyptian armored personnel carrier is covered in anti-Mubarak graffiti in Cairo. Photo: Zeinab Mahmoud
smileyfaceprotest
A graffitied smiley face on a wall constructed by the military to impede protesters. Photo: Amru Salahuddien
The headquarters of the National Democratic Party, Egypt's ruling political party under Mubarak's rule, burns after being set on fire on January 28, 2011. Photo credit: unkown
The headquarters of the National Democratic Party, Egypt’s ruling political party under Mubarak’s rule, burns after being set on fire on January 28, 2011. Photo credit: unkown
An Egyptian mother watched as thousands of Egyptian protesters gathered at Tahrir Square in Cairo in January 2011. The ruling National Democratic Party building can be seen burned at top right behind the Egypt museum. Photo: Amr Nabil, AP
An Egyptian mother watched as thousands of Egyptian protesters gathered at Tahrir Square in Cairo in January 2011. The ruling National Democratic Party building can be seen burned at top right behind the Egypt museum. Photo: Amr Nabil, AP
Egyptian Army tanks roll into Tahrir Square as Mubarak's government attempts to quell demonstrations. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
Egyptian Army tanks roll into Tahrir Square as Mubarak’s government attempts to quell demonstrations. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
Riot police use water cannons on protesters trying to cross the Kasr al-Nile bridge. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
Riot police use water cannons on protesters trying to cross the Kasr al-Nile bridge. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
Egyptian film star Omar Sharif points to Tahrir, or Liberation, Square, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday Jan. 31, 2011. Photo: Lefteris Pitarakis, AP
In this Tuesday February 1, 2011 photo, tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators march in Alexandria, Egypt. Photo: Ahmed Muhammed, AP
An Egyptian man sits atop one of the lions at the entrance of Kasr El Nil Bridge, leading to Tahrir Square on February 1, 2011. Photo: Zeinab Mohamed
An Egyptian man sits atop one of the lions at the entrance of Kasr El Nil Bridge, leading to Tahrir Square on February 1, 2011. Photo: Zeinab Mohamed
camel_682_1245996a
A pro-Mubarak rioter riding on a camel clashing with anti-government protesters in what became known as the Battle of the Camel, February 2, 2011. Photo: Chris Hondros, Getty Images
Pro-government and supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (top) and anti-government demonstrators (bottom) clash in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 2, 2011. Photo: Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Reuters
Pro-government and supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (top) and anti-government demonstrators (bottom) clash in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 2, 2011. Photo: Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Reuters
A Muslim holding the Quran (left) and a Coptic Christian holding a cross are carried through opposition supporters in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 6, 2011. Photo: Dylan Martinez, Reuters
A Muslim holding the Quran (left) and a Coptic Christian holding a cross are carried through opposition supporters in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 6, 2011. Photo: Dylan Martinez, Reuters
Egyptian anti-government protesters perform the evening prayers as they gather at Cairo's Tahrir square on February 8, 2011. Photo: Patrick Baz, AFP/Getty Images
Egyptian anti-government protesters perform the evening prayers as they gather at Cairo’s Tahrir square on February 8, 2011. Photo: Patrick Baz, AFP/Getty Images
Protesters holding signs calling for Mubarak's departure in Tahrir. Photo: Jihad Abaza
Protesters holding signs calling for Mubarak’s departure in Tahrir. Photo: Jihad Abaza
An Egyptian army commander, Hassan al-Roweny, addresses protesters in the opposition stronghold of Tahrir Square, in Cairo February 10, 2011. Photo: Suhaib Salem, Reuters
An Egyptian army commander, Hassan al-Roweny, addresses protesters in the opposition stronghold of Tahrir Square, in Cairo February 10, 2011. Photo: Suhaib Salem, Reuters
Anti-government protesters raise their shoes after a speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek saying that he had given some powers to his vice president but would not resign or leave the country. Photo: Chris Hondros, Getty Images
Anti-government protesters raise their shoes after a speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak saying that he had given some powers to his vice president but would not resign or leave the country on February 10, 2011. Photo: Chris Hondros, Getty Images
Egyptian women celebrate the news of the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who handed control of the country to the military, at night in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt Friday, February 11, 2011. Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill, AP
Egyptian women celebrate the news of the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, who handed control of the country to the military, at night in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt Friday, February 11, 2011. Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill, AP
Celebrating the announcement of Hosni Mubarak's resignation in Tahrir Square on February 11, 2011. Photo: Jonathan Rashad
Celebrating the announcement of Hosni Mubarak’s resignation in Tahrir Square on February 11, 2011. Photo: Jonathan Rashad

Article updated January 25, 2017

Comments (6)

Related Articles

Egypt
In Photos