Egypt’s Quiet Social Revolution | Foreign Policy
▻http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/06/18/egypts-quiet-social-revolution
(...) Hidden from the public eye, a social revolution is transforming Egypt.
For the first time in fifty years, women have started to take off their hijabs. Every Egyptian seems to know at least one woman in his or her family or circle of friends that has committed this small but significant act of revolt. And this is not the only secular act gaining currency among Egyptians. In private, more and more people are discussing taboos like atheism — or even sexual identity. In this way, they are defying not only the strict fundamentalism of Islamists like the Muslim Brotherhood, but also the “establishment” Islam defended by the current regime.
This silent revolution contradicts the daily news we get from the Arab world. All eyes are focused on the Islamic State. After the horrors of the Taliban and al Qaeda, the world is shocked to see an even more extreme and barbaric version of Islamist rule carrying out a reign of terror. But are more people becoming extremists, or are the extremists becoming more extreme? No doubt some Egyptians have become more extreme since the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. Some Brotherhood recruits may even be joining the Islamic State or other Islamist groups.
But much more important is what’s happening among Egypt’s silent majority. Here, the opposite trend is becoming clear: Fewer taxi drivers are prominently displaying the Quran in their cars. Hijabs are coming off. And the young revolutionary generation is attending prayers less often. (...)
There are no reliable surveys on these trends. (...)
In Europe, putting a veil on is considered rebellious, while in Egypt, the act of rebellion is taking it off. It’s not wearing the veil that makes one conservative — nor does not wearing the veil make one progressive. It’s the act of change and rebellion that makes the difference. Egypt’s 2011 revolution may have failed on many levels, especially politically. But it succeeded in convincing a young generation that it can be free if it really wants to be — at least in people’s minds and in their personal lives.
This generation of people younger than 25 is not a small group — it’s 50 percent of Egypt’s population. This was the generation that made the 2011 revolution happen. And now, in a different way, it’s transforming the country again. This social revolution is a silent one, so far — but in the long run, it may lead to a deeper change than anyone would expect.❞
Je voudrais bien y croire mais je ne suis qu’à moitié convaincu... Des impressions de la part de Seenthissiens ou autres ?