By Ibrahim Negm
Senior advisor to the Grand Mufti of Egypt
Twelve years ago, on June 30, 2013, millions of Egyptians poured into the streets to reclaim their country from the grip of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule. Fed up with a year of chaotic governance by President Mohamed Morsi, ordinary Egyptians of all backgrounds united in an unprecedented grassroots uprising. Their message was unmistakable: the Brotherhood’s experiment had plunged Egypt into instability and threatened the very identity of the nation. Backed by key state institutions responding to the people’s call, this popular revolution succeeded in ousting the Islamist-led government and paved the way for a new era of national rebuilding. What many outsiders misunderstood as merely a “coup” was, for Egyptians, a second revolution – a course-correction to save the state from collapse and restore stability and cohesion.
The timing of Egypt’s 2013 popular uprising was all the more critical given the raging turmoil across the Middle East. In the early 2010s, the hopeful uprisings of the Arab Spring had degenerated into chaos in several countries. What had begun as calls for democracy morphed into civil wars in Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Iraq, leaving a trail of failed states and humanitarian disasters in their wake.
It was in this context of regional upheaval that Egypt’s post-June 30 leadership moved decisively to secure the nation’s stability. Understanding that chaos next door would inevitably spill over, Cairo doubled down on shoring up its borders and combating the terrorist insurgency that flared up, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula. Sisi – formerly the defense minister who responded to the people’s call in 2013 – made clear upon assuming the presidency that restoring security was the top priority. He vowed to “crush” the Islamist militancy that had taken root in Sinai and elsewhere and indeed launched large-scale military operations to root out those militants and thank God he succeeded.
Today, as Egypt commemorates the anniversary of the June 30 Revolution, it is worth reflecting on how that landmark moment changed the country’s trajectory. In the years since, Egypt has undertaken a sweeping project to reconstruct its political order, reassert its cultural and religious moderation, and stabilize a volatile region. The result is a nation that, while not without challenges, is markedly more secure, cohesive, and forward-looking than it was during the fateful Brotherhood interlude. This opinion piece examines the legacy of June 30 from an Egyptian perspective – recounting how the people rescued their country from an ideological hijacking and addressing why many in the West still misread this defining chapter of Egypt’s modern history.
The road from 2013 to 2025 has not been easy; it has entailed sacrifice, difficult reforms, and ongoing battles against extremism and economic hardship. Yet the overarching trajectory has been toward greater stability, unity, and hope. The spirit that drove the June 30 Revolution – the refusal of Egyptians to accept tyranny cloaked in religion or to allow their country to descend into anarchy – continues to inspire the nation’s path forward. Egypt today is building on that legacy, striving to achieve the original goals of the 2011 uprising (bread, freedom, social justice) but this time with the wisdom of hard experience. There is a broad understanding in Egyptian society that sustainable democracy and development must be constructed on the firm foundation of security and national cohesion.
Abroad, skeptics may ask whether Egypt is truly better off after June 30. The answer, from the perspective of millions of Egyptian families who lived through both the 2011 and 2013 revolutions, is an emphatic yes. In 2013, Egypt was on the brink of joining the ranks of failed states; in 2025, it is enacting ambitious plans for a “New Republic.” In 2013, Egyptians were bitterly divided and fearful; in 2025, while political debates continue, there is at least a shared confidence that the nation’s most dangerous foes – terrorism, insurgency, disintegration – have been defeated. The June 30 Revolution will forever remain a powerful reminder of the Egyptian people’s agency in shaping their destiny. It showed the world that in Egypt, legitimacy ultimately emanates from the people, not from any single election or ruler who betrays the public trust. As one reflection on the anniversary put it, “It showed that the people have the power to overthrow a corrupt and unpopular government. It also showed that the Muslim Brotherhood is not invincible”.
Indeed, Egyptians often describe June 30 as a story of national salvation – a story of hope and inspiration that they believe will be felt for generations. The lesson of that day is that Egypt will remain, as it has for millennia, greater than any one faction or ideology that tries to dominate it. In reclaiming their nation from hijackers, the Egyptian people affirmed their commitment to a state that reflects Egypt’s true character: proud, pluralistic, secure, and forward-looking. The West may not have fully understood it in 2013, but Egyptians are confident that history will remember June 30 as the moment they pulled their country back from the abyss and set it on a course toward a better future – a future defined by stability, prosperity, and the inclusive spirit of the Egyptian nation.
