We, too, know that sometimes one has to pay too high a price for freedom,

We, too, have lived through poverty, beggary and hunger,

We, too, have fought for survival, for days and nights, hoping that one day we could also be free,

We, too, have seen the injustice of inequality, the snobbery and arrogance of the corrupt rulers,

We, too, have dreamed of living the lives of our foreign friends who enjoy peace in their existence, abundance in living and leisure,

We, too, stayed, although we should have fled, and fled, although we should have stayed,

We, too, have experienced the frightening sight of approaching water cannons, the last wave of a brother dragged by balaclava-faced men, and the tightness of police shackles,

We, too, have felt the bitter end of police truncheons on our heads, the cynicism of slavish judges acting under the sheepskin of victimhood, icy smiles of former friends scared of our friendship,

We, too, have wept and slept in front of police lockups, looking for our parents and friends,

We, too, thank the strangers, who saved us by sheltering us in their apartments and who bandaged our bruised and bleeding hands,

We, too, humiliated, exhausted and angered, have promised to never do it again, and yet we, too, have and always will,

We, too, stand beside you, our sisters and brothers from Egypt. We, too, salute you for your courage and sacrifice!

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