Tahrir Square is the central city square in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Tahrir means liberation in the Arabic language. Tahrir Square is home to the Egyptian Museum; the Mugamma, a government office complex; and other important buildings. The headquarters of the Arab League, an organization of Middle Eastern and African countries, also stands on the square. Numerous ceremonies, gatherings, and historic events have taken place on the square.
Tahrir Square was originally called Ismailia Square, after Ismail Pasha, who ruled Egypt from 1863 to 1879. The square was renamed following the Egyptian revolution of 1952. The revolution forced Egypt’s king from power and made Egypt a republic.
Beginning on Jan. 25, 2011, Tahrir Square became the scene of protests against the government of President Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak had ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years with little opposition. But his government limited political freedoms and faced charges of corruption. Egyptians were also angry over widespread poverty, unemployment, and high food prices. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians crowded Tahrir Square during several weeks of demonstrations.
Despite the presence of national police and military forces, numerous clashes erupted between protesters and Mubarak supporters. The violence resulted in about 300 deaths. Many buildings were looted and burned. Protests also occurred in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Suez.
Mubarak initially refused the protesters’ call for his removal from power. He announced that he would not run for another term in elections scheduled for September 2011. Protests continued, however, and Mubarak resigned on February 11. In 2012, Mubarak was convicted of ordering the killing of protesters and sentenced to life in prison. In August 2013, the ailing former leader was transferred to house arrest in a military hospital following further government changes and unrest in Egypt. In late 2014, an Egyptian court overturned Mubarak’s 2012 conviction and dismissed his life sentence. In May 2015, however, Mubarak was convicted in a corruption case, and he remained in government custody until March 2017.
Tahrir Square continues to be the scene of occasional mass protests. In late June 2013, hundreds of thousands of people filled the square, protesting against the government of President Mohamed Morsi. The Egyptian army removed Morsi from office in July. In late January 2015, violence erupted again in Tahrir Square on the anniversary of the 2011 events. Clashes between protesters and police killed more than 20 people.
