Cairo's Tahrir Square has been the focal point for tens of thousands of protesters rallying against the regime of Egypt's Ex-President Hosni Mubarak
On February 11, 2011, the mood on Cairo's Tahrir Square is absolutely jubilant when the Egyptian citizens stand on Cairo's Tahrir Square as they celebrate after President Hosni Mubarak resigned and handed power to the military at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.
Know More about Cairo’s Tahrir Square
Cairo’s Tahrir Square is a major public town square in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. And a great many buses and taxis make Tahrir Square a key part of their services.
Also, the Cairo Metro also has its main nexus under Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
The square was originally called Ismailia Square, after the 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail, who commissioned the new downtown district's 'Paris on the Nile' design.
After the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 the square became widely known as Tahrir (Liberation) Square, but the square was not officially renamed until the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, which changed Egypt from a constitutional monarchy into a republic.
Landmarks of Cairo’s Tahrir Square
- The Egyptian Museum
- The American University in Cairo
- The Arab League
- The Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels
- Mogamma Building
- Mosque of Omar Makram
- The focal point of 2011 Egyptian Revolution
Features of Cairo’s Tahrir Square
At the center of Cairo’s Tahrir Square is a large and busy traffic circle. On the north-east side is a plaza with a statue of nationalist hero Omar Makram (celebrated for his resistance against Napoleon I's invasion of Egypt), and beyond is the Omar Makram Mosque.
The square is the northern terminus of the historic Qasr al-Ayn Street, the western terminus of Talaat Harb Street, and via Qasr el-Nil Street crossing its southern portion it has direct access to the Qasr al-Nil Bridge crossing the nearby Nile River.
The area around Tahrir Square includes the Egyptian Museum, the National Democratic Party-NDP headquarters building, the Mogamma government building, the Headquarters of the Arab League building, the Nile Hotel, and the original downtown campus of the American University in Cairo.
The Cairo Metro serves Tahrir Square with the Sadat Station, which is the downtown junction of the system's two lines, linking to Giza, Maadi, Helwan, and other districts and suburbs of Greater Cairo.
Its underground access viaducts provide the safest routes for pedestrians crossing the broad roads of the heavily trafficked square.
Cairo's Tahrir Square as the focal point of Egypt's Revolt
Cairo’s Tahrir Square was the focal point of the Egyptian Revolution against former president Hosni Mubarak.
Over 50,000 protesters first occupied Cairo’s Tahrir Square on 25 January, during which the area's wireless services were reported to be impaired.
In the following days Cairo’s Tahrir Square continued to be the primary destination for protests in Cairo.
On 30 January, the seventh day of the protests, the correspondents of media agencies reported that the number of demonstrators had grown to at least 100,000.
Meanwhile, on 31 January Al Jazeera reported that the demonstrations had grown to at least 250,000 people.
It reported on 1 February that more than 1 million protesters peacefully gathered in the square and adjacent streets.
The square became established as a focal point and a symbol for the ongoing Egyptian democracy demonstrations.
On 2 February violence erupted between the pro-Mubarak and pro-democracy demonstrators here, followed by the 3 February 'Friday of Departure' demonstration, one of the named "day of" events centered in the square.
Within a week, due to international media coverage, the image and name of Tahrir Square became known worldwide.
A Facebook page called "Tahrir Square" was maintained by a rotating staff of twenty during the uprising, particularly to offset the lack of and/or distorted coverage of events and responses in the state-run media outlets.
The 18-day revolt centered in the square — led by the young people of Egypt and joined by citizens of all ages, genders, and classes — succeeded to make Ex-president Mubarak step down from office.
On Friday 11 February 2011, officially Egypt’s former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down from office.
A Chief of Egypt’s Intelligence and new Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Ex-president Hosni Mubarak had passed all authority to the Council of the Armed Forces.
Cairo’s Tahrir Square erupted in a night-long celebration after the twilight announcement, with shouts such as "Lift your head up high, you're Egyptian," "Everyone who loves Egypt, come and rebuild Egypt," and others.
The next day Egyptian citizens came to clean up Cairo’s Tahrir square.
Tahrir Square after Egypt's Revolt
Cairo’s Tahrir Square, with 'democracy anniversary' celebrations and visits from foreign dignitaries, continues to be a symbol of Egypt’s Revolt.
By Tamer Ibrahim