No doubt the 25 January revolution was Egypt’s grandest event in recent history, with its positive impact, and regardless of the unfortunate consequences. Flashback to 2010 in a quiet village in Al-Qalyoubia governorate right before the uprising, a kid sat in a high school classroom with enough understanding that a president should not be in power for 30 years and that opposition should not only be composed of underground Muslim Brotherhood members, but not enough knowledge or awareness to take action. Tarek Hussein had no idea that, in six years, he would be a lawyer to defend those who stood up for the values of revolution. “Political spaces were non-existent in governorates,” began Hussein. Abu Zaabal prison had opened in Al-Qalyoubia and it was complete chaos, Hussein recalled, but no protests had erupted, driving Hussein to travel to Cairo to be part of the unfolding events. “I participated in revolution for the sake of understanding the situation,” Hussein recalled. Basic understanding of how toppled Hosni Mubarak could not be in power for 30 years was not to be found among Hussein’s circles in his hometown. Hussein went back to…
From Political Prisoner to Rights Defender: The Story of Egyptian Tarek Hussein
June 6, 2017
