On the 1st anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution, millions flooded into Tahrir Square to demand an end to military rule and counter-revolutionary violence.
The last few months have been filled with fresh uprisings against the army junta, attacks by religious extremists, and united action between Christians and Muslims to face down those who want to throw back the progress of the revolution.
Religion has a huge impact on people’s lives across the world. In many countries, religious regimes and movement dictate the way people live their lives, enforcing moral values, expectations and laws on what they can and can’t do. Throughout history religion has been used to divide, oppress and victimise certain groups of people.
Yet from the US Civil Rights movement to Liberation Theology to the Arab Spring we see that religious movement can play a leading role in progressive struggles.
This is mainly down to two factors; in semi-colonial (third-world) countries religious forces are the largest and most powerful organisations outside of government, and in imperialist countries religious practice is highest among those suffering oppression based on their race or religious beliefs.
So during the Egyptian Revolution, the formerly-illegal Muslim Brotherhood eventually joined the protests to overthrow Mubarak. But after months of rule by a military junta, a new uprising has been condemned by the Muslim Brotherhood. They hope to rise to state power off the backs of those who made the revolution on the streets.
REVOLUTION calls for a separation between church and state. We are in favour of the freedom to worship, and the freedom not to worship. We are for an end to religious laws.
We say:
