Home » Democracy's Heroes: The Egyptian Democratic Academy

Democracy's Heroes: The Egyptian Democratic Academy

December 23, 2010
 
In an election otherwise marred by violence and voting irregularities, EReported incidents of voting irregularities as of December 22, 2010, as tracked by EDA (click on the map to see a current and larger version at U-Shahid).gypt’s domestic monitors stood out as a glimmer of hope.
 
On November 28 and again on December 5, the Egyptian Democratic Academy (EDA) monitored the first and second rounds of Egypt’s parliamentary elections.  EDA, along with a host of other organizations, placed thousands of well-trained and nonpartisan monitors at polling stations throughout the country.  These courageous men and women shed light on voting irregularities and reported violations by ruling party candidate representatives and supporters, state security forces and polling station personnel.

 

The organization mobilized a network of volunteer monitors who reported throughout the day.  Their online monitoring platform, known as U-Shahid, incorporated mapping technologies to show real-time reporting from monitors using Twitter, e-mail and other new media tools (see inset map).  Through this technology, the outside world witnessed in real-time what was being reported on the ground.  Monitors and staff acted bravely to show the world an election process marred by fraud and violence.  Monitors faced resistance from ruling party supporters and security forces alike when attempting to enter or remain at polling station; many were subjected to violence intimidation and detention.

What is most remarkable about this effort is that EDA staff had themselves been routinely harassed by Egyptian security services for democracy promotion activities.  In 2008, the government was able to use the 30-year old Emergency Law to detain EDA Media Director Israa Abdelfattah, a blogger who used Facebook to rally thousands of people to take part in a general strike over workers rights.  In addition, on January 15, 2010, EDA staff, Bassem Samir, Bassem Fathy and Ahmed Badawy, were arrested along with 25 other bloggers, pro-democracy activists and political party representatives on charges of demonstrating illegally, an allegation the group has denied.

In the run-up to the recent election, the Egyptian government adamantly refused to sanction international monitors, on the grounds of maintaining national pride and sovereignty.  This was interpreted as part of the government’s plan to push through another election that lacked fairness or impartiality.  Though the government has made bold moves to imprison EDA members, staff  remain undeterred in their desire to shine a light on the events that unfolded at polling stations in December. 

That brave individuals such as these advocate unflinchingly for reform in the face of intimidation is impressive and should be applauded. 

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Egypt