2012 Heliopolis Palace incident
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| 2012 Heliopolis Palace Incident | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Egyptian crisis, 2012-13 Egyptian protests | |||
 Egyptian Republican Guard tanks guarding the Heliopolis Palace | |||
| Date | 4-6 December 2012 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | 2012 constitutional declaration decree on presidential influence over the judiciary | ||
| Goals | Revision on the constitution | ||
| Methods | |||
| Resulted in | Constitutional decree cancelled[1] | ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
| Lead figures | |||
| |||
| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | 10 (including pro Morsi and anti-Morsi) | ||
| Injuries | hundreds | ||
The 2012 Heliopolis Palace Incident refers to protests that led to clashes in early December 2012 outside the Heliopolis Palace in Heliopolis, Cairo.[2] It was sparked by President Mohamed Morsi’s controversial constitutional declaration, issued on November 22, 2012, which granted him sweeping powers beyond judicial oversight. On December 4, thousands of protesters opposed to Morsi gathered outside the Heliopolis Palace.
By the 5th of December, protests turned violent when clashes erupted between anti-Morsi demonstrators, Morsi supporters and security forces[3] leading to at least 10 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Security forces, including the Central Security Forces and the Republican Guard, were deployed, and the area was fortified with barbed wire and barricades. The atmosphere came to a calm by the 6th of December.
Background
[edit]On February 11 2011, Hosni Mubarak stepped down as President of Egypt, handing over power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. The SCAF dissolved parliament and suspended the 1971 constitution and a constitutional provision in March 2011 increased political freedoms in Egypt and led to the establishment of several political parties. Freedom of speech improved significantly and censorship on the media was no longer strict. The Muslim Brotherhood which was banned after the 1952 Coup was legalized after the 2011 Revolution and established the Freedom and Justice Party to participate in the upcoming elections.
Between November 2011 and January 2012, Egypt’s first free and fair parliamentary election since the declaration of the republic took place. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice party won 47% of the seats and its member Saad El-Katatni became the people’s assembly’s speaker. [4] Up next was the presidential election which took place from May to June of 2012. All candidates in the election were members of the Mubarak regime, except the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, Mohamed Morsi. Morsi faced off Ahmed Shafik, a former Air Force officer and the last Prime Minister under Mubarak.
The military which dominated Egypt’s politics since 1952 was unhappy with increasing civilian rule, and when it became apparent that Morsi (the civilian candidate) would win against its candidate (Ahmed Shafik), the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces made its final efforts of power grabbing when it made constitutional amendments limiting the powers of the President. The SCAF also ordered a court ruling to dissolve the elected parliament, [5]a move that angered many and was seen as a power grab. Nevertheless, Mohamed Morsi won the election against the military’s candidate (Ahmed Shafik) to become Egypt’s first democratically elected and civilian President.
After coming to office, Morsi reinstated the elected parliament.[6]Morsi’s 2012 constitution introduced democratic features such as ending the all-power presidency and instituting a stronger parliament. In addition, it ended the military’s ability to detain civilians and they then in military courts, unless they have caused harm to the Armed Forces. The constitution also contained articles that prohibited the usage of torture. However, it gave Morsi temporary control over the judiciary, influenced by Mubarak-era judges and Morsi claimed that it was necessary in order to prevent the judiciary, which is a part of the deep state hostile to the democratic transition to re-dissolve the elected parliament.
Later protests
[edit]On the morning of Thursday, December 6, dozens of demonstrators descended on Tahrir Square to protest the dispersal of the sit-in held by opponents of President Mohamed Morsi's recent decisions in front of Heliopolis Palace. The demonstrators organized a march through the square, chanting slogans against the president and the Muslim Brotherhood. The Sakia Abdel Moneim Al-Sawy announced the suspension of all its activities and events starting that day, due to the assault on peaceful demonstrators.
Thousands of citizens demonstrated at Tahrir Square on Friday, December 7, as part of what they called the "Red Card Million Man March," demanding the departure of President Mohamed Morsi, the annulment of the referendum on the constitution prepared by the Constituent Assembly, and the constitutional declaration issued by the president. They organized a march from Tahrir Square to the Heliopolis Palace under the slogan "The people demand the fall of the regime." Meanwhile, Hamdeen Sabahi, founder of the Popular Current, visited Tahrir Square amidst heavy security presence by popular committees at the entrances, in anticipation of any counterattacks by the Muslim Brotherhood to disperse the sit-in.
Aftermath
[edit]Political division
[edit]The incident deepened national polarization between supporters of Morsi (mostly Islamist factions) and the opposition like liberals, leftists. The Brotherhood was accused of running “militias” and acting above the law.
Resignations
[edit]Several presidential advisors resigned in protest of Morsi’s handling of the situation, including members of his own advisory council. Prominent figures from government institutions also distanced themselves from the Brotherhood.[7]
Cancellation on the controversial constitutional decree
[edit]On the 8th of December 2012, President Morsi announced that he would be revoking the decree imposing presidential control of the judiciary[8] and announced that the 2012 constitutional referendum will take place on the 15th of December 2012 as scheduled. The referendum was approved by 63.83 of voters.
References
[edit]- ^ "A bloody night at Egypt's presidential palace". Ahram Online. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ Harriet Sherwood (5 December 2012). "Morsi supporters protest outside presidential palace in Cairo". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Morsi flees presidential palace amid a spark of violent protest". Foreign Policy. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ Coleman, Jasmine (21 January 2012). "Egypt election results show firm win for Islamists". The Guardian.
- ^ "Dissolution of parliament 'unconstitutional,' El-Katatni tells SCAF". Ahram Online. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Egypt's Morsi orders dissolution of parliament". BBC News. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ "Three Egyptian presidential advisers resign: MENA". 5 December 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Egypt's president cancels decree that sparked protests". Times-Colonist.