Google executive optimistic about Egypt’s revolution

Tahrir Square, 8 February 2011. A revolution is well underway. Step forward a young Google executive to address the Cairo crowd.

Wael Ghonim had been detained by the authorities for nearly two weeks after it emerged he was one of the anonymous administrators of the Facebook page that helped to spark the protests in Egypt.

“We Are All Khaled Said” was set up in memory of a young man killed by the Egyptian authorities. It attracted hundreds of thousands of followers.

Wael Ghonim’s address to demonstrators in Tahrir Square was seen around the world and he was credited with a significant role in the eventual downfall of Hosni Mubarak.

I was never able to go out. I was always thinking I’ll be killed some time. Wael Ghonim

Speaking to Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow during a visit to the UK, Ghonim said he was a reluctant hero: “I’m not that brave. I’m not the guy who would go and fight in the street. Behind the screen it’s much easier. You don’t see the consequences, you don’t live the consequences.”

“I got a lot of credit I don’t deserve. There were a lot of people working on the page.”

Ghonim was eventually arrested: “I was not brutally tortured, I was definitely psychologically tortured, I was never able to speak to anyone, I was always handcuffed, blindfolded and was never able to go out.

“I was always thinking I’ll be killed sometime.”

The internet revolution

Wael Ghonim said the internet’s role in the revolution was as “critical as the phone” and was simply a reflection of the feeling on the street.

“The reality is that the internet helped to spark the revolution. Most people on the streets on 25 January, most of them came through the internet and mainly Facebook.

The reality is that the internet helped to spark the revolution. Wael Ghonim

“Our role was to create the snowball, and once the snowball was created most of the Egyptians who were hurt by the regime started to join and broke the psychological barrier of fear.”

Ghonim also said he “hated” the term Arab Spring.

He said: “Every time I read it, it makes me feel like this is a temporary thing – they’re saying that Arabs woke up and they’re going to go back to sleep again. I think that it’s an Arabic Revolution.”

What next for Egypt?

Wael Ghonim told Channel 4 News he is optimistic about Egypt’s future: “We got rid of a nightmare and we’re still going through phases of problems which are expected.

“A regime was oppressing us for 30 years – a lot of people were not able to speak their minds and all of a sudden they have a free environment.

“I think all these problems will make us stronger and I’m very optimistic about the future.”

He added: “The Western world also has a responsibility because the Egyptian revolution cannot go wrong – it should not go wrong because that would send the wrong message to dictators.”