The Spark that Started the Firestorm: Egypt’s Wael Ghonim Gives Timeless TV Interview (English Version)

Egypt’s popular revolution has seen millions of Egyptians take to the streets. It all started as a series of protests on January 25 organized by “We Are All Khaled Said” Facebook group (Khaled Said was an activist who was kidnapped and beaten into a pulp by police in Alexandria). The group’s admin, Wael Ghonim, a Google executive, was kidnapped by plain clothes police on January 27 only to be released yesterday.

Wael was in jail on January 28, a day that saw the biggest freedom marches all over the country yet. In Cairo, Tahrir Square was claimed by the people on that day and remains occupied by the people to this moment.

Since Jan 25, 300 protesters have been killed.

One man does not start a revolution. The anger, passions, hopes, and dreams inside millions of people do. But fuel does not light up without a spark. While there have been many sparks, Wael’s organizing abilities on Facebook, and his patriotic, non-ideological slant has been the most important and direct spark, in my opinion.

Wael gave his first full TV interview yesterday (the evening of his release) to Mona Al Shazly of Al Ashera Masaan (Ten PM) show on Dream TV. In an atmosphere of outrageous local media censorship, lies and propaganda, Mona Al Shazly has been one of the few outspoken Egyptian TV presenters that have played an instrumental role in giving audiences the truth about the revolution.

Wael’s interview with Mona represents a pivotal moment in Egyptian television history, and indeed Egyptian history period.

Wael is not a revolutionary, a politician, or a leader of any sorts. According to him, he is not a hero either. But he is a hero, precisely because he is an ordinary citizen who refused to stay silent in the face of an entrenched politically repressive culture. Wael is Egypt’s Rosa Parks in the age of information technology.

Wael is not a fiery orator with catchy romantic sloganeering. That’s a good thing; the Middle East has had enough of those. Wael is a soft-spoken realist who represents a wide contingency of Egyptian youth who dream of a better tomorrow and who are willing to fight peacefully, yet incessantly, for it.

The government has worked hard to brainwash citizens against the revolution, claiming that it was a conspiracy by foreign agents, traitors, and the like. Wael’s interview may have single-handedly defeated that myth for a lot of simple Egyptians who may have believed it. That is because sincerity is the highest form of persuasion.

Below is a transcript of excerpts of Wael’s emotional interview with Mona (courtesy of Angie Emara), followed by a link to the 5 part interview (video courtesy of Dream TV and subtitles courtesy of Egypt.live.in)

Wael Ghonim Transcript in Interview with Mona Al Shazly (Mon Feb 7, 2011) Thanks to Angie Emara

“I didn’t want anyone to know that I am the administrator,” he said. “There are no heroes; we are all heroes on the street. And no one is on their horse and fighting with the sword.”

“I am not a hero. I was only used the keyboard, the real heroes are the ones on the ground. Those I can’t name.” (Crying)

“This is the revolution of the youth of the Internet and now the revolution of all Egyptians.”

“I met some really intellectual people in jail; they actually thought that we were traitors, working for others.”

“Anyone with good intentions is the traitor because being evil is the norm,” he said. “If I was a traitor, I would have stayed in my villa in the Emirates and made good money and said like others, ‘Let this country go to hell.’ But we are not traitors.”

“I spent all my time on computer working for my country. I wasn’t optimistic on the 25th but now I can’t believe it.”

“Thanks to everyone who tried to get me out of jail.”

“I kept thinking ‘are people thinking of me?’ I was wondering if my family knew where I was, my wife, dad, and mother.”

“I met with the Minister of Interior today. He was sat like any other citizen. He spoke to me like an equal. I respected that.”

“The youth on the streets made Dr Hossam Badrawi (General Secretary of NDP) drive me to my house today.”

“Now isn’t the time for self-congratulation, dividing gains, or imposing ideologies.”

“They transferred me to state security, it’s a kidnapping. On Thursday night, at 1am I was with a friend, a colleague from work.”

“I was taking a taxi, suddenly four people surrounded the car, I yelled ‘Help me, Help me’ I was blindfolded then taken away.”

“I pay these guys salaries from my taxes, I have the right to ask the ministers where my money is going, this is our country.”

“I will say this as it is: nothing justifies kidnapping, you can arrest me by the law, I am not a drug dealer or terrorist.”

“I am ready to lose all of our money for Egypt. If you are not, just step aside.”

“Don’t stand in our way, we are going to serve Egypt. I saw a film director get slapped, they told him ‘You will die here’ Why?”

“Badrawi told me we took all the bad people out from the NDP. I told him I don’t want to see the logo of the NDP ever again.”

“The NDP is got this country to where it is. You can create a new party. It looks like I might be kidnapped again after this.”

“There were 300 fake registrations on my Facebook page, all negative comments, about how we were allegedly being paid.”

“There was no Muslim Brotherhood presence in organizing these protests; it was all spontaneous, voluntary.”

“Please everyone, enough rumors! Enough.”

“I thanked Hossam Badrawy, but not for getting me out. That was not a favor. That was his duty.”

“I told the Interior Minister – I was upset – I told him I will go in the car with Hossam Badrawi but without an NDP logo.”

“I cried when I heard that there are people who died, officers and protesters, this is my country.”

“My wife is an American, I can apply for US citizenship but I didn’t, not even the lottery. Many people want to leave though.”

“We have to restore dignity to all Egyptians. We have to end corruption. No more theft. Egyptians are good people.”

“We are a beautiful people. Please everybody, this is not a time to settle scores, this is a time to build our country.”

“I can’t claim I know what happened when I was inside. I didn’t know anything until one day before I left.”

“The interrogators wanted to know if outsiders were involved. I convinced them this was a purely Egyptian movement.”

“The treatment was very good; they knew I was a good Egyptian. I was blindfolded for 12 days, I didn’t see their faces.”

“They wanted details, information. ‘Are the people who planned this, outsiders?’ We didn’t do anything wrong, this was an appeal.”

“I told the Interior Minister we have two problems 1- we don’t talk to each other, this must be solved, and 2- There is no trust.”

“I told the Interior Minister if I stripped naked & told people that I was beaten even without marks they would believe me.”

“The Egyptian State TV channels didn’t portray the truth; that is why people watch the private channels now.”

“There were several men in the room with me & the Minister of Interior. I asked him if I can speak about this he said as you wish.”

“The Minister of Interior told me he doesn’t understand how you people managed to do all of this.”

“I was told that people died, one day before I was released.”

Wael was shown photos of young martyrs around his age who fell over the last few days. Wael breaks down.

“I want to tell to everybody who lost a son, I am sorry. I swear this isn’t my fault. This is the fault of those who held to power.”

Wael just walks off the set, “I want to leave.”

Wael Ghonim 5 part Interview on Egypt.live.in (Video)