Invoking Tahrir Square belies the ongoing problems in Egypt, says Susannah Compton.

‘Turn Manhattan into Tahrir Square!’ ‘Turn London into Tahrir Square!’ Even, ‘turn patriarchy into Tahrir Square!’ The seeming triumph of the Egyptian vox populi is now immortalised not only in articles and newscasts, but in the social media of the West. Tahrir Square begat a hundred Occupy camps and joined the emotive vocabulary of protest. Now, as Cairo is ablaze once again, its ubiquity among the tweeting classes is both nonsensical and belittling.

Since November 19th, Al-Jazeera reports that at least 42 people have been killed and more than 3,256 wounded in fresh clashes across Egypt. The latest death on Saturday saw a pro-democracy protestor named as Ahmed Soroor run over by an armoured vehicle near the Egyptian Cabinet Office. Tahrir Square has seen the return of tens of thousands to attend a rally against military rule on Friday, while elsewhere more than 5,000 people counter-demonstrated in support of the governing Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

The popularity of the Egyptian Army following the downfall of Mubarak has now all but evaporated. Their original promise of a return to barracks within six months of taking power has been flouted. Sectarianism is back: a largely-Christian protest in October over restrictions to church-building was brutally suppressed by the army, following which army-controlled State TV reported that “the Copts have killed two soldiers”, and presenters urged the public to “protect the army from the Copts”.

Allegations that the military subjected many women to ‘virginity tests’ have caused international uproar, while observers estimate that over 10,000 arrestees have been tried in secret military tribunals for crimes ranging from the commonly criminal to simply being part of a group protesting outside the Israeli embassy on Nakba Day (15 May).

On Friday, the Guardian published an interview with Major Tamer Samir Badr, announcing his defection to the anti-regime protestors and alleging that he “saw people dying and the army gave the orders for us to just stand and watch”. The UN has condemned the regime’s reaction to the demonstrations, while Germany and other European countries have called for a swift transition to civilian government.

In the face of rising unpopularity, SCAF has made limited concessions. Essam Sharaf, prime minister for the past 9 months, has resigned, while the regime is adamant that free and fair parliamentary elections will begin on Monday 28th as planned. However, newly-installed prime minister Kamal el-Ganzouri is dogged by the suspicion that as he steps once again into the role he filled under Mubarak, he represents not progress but regression.

However, there is little unity among the Egyptian population. The Guardian reports that pro-regime rallies encompass such diverse views as support for indefinite military rule, a return to the Mubarak regime and progress towards full democracy. The Tahrir Square protestors, meanwhile, are united in opposition to SCAF but divided over the alternative.

The Muslim Brotherhood, comfortable in their role as de facto but unscrutinised opposition, are struggling to maintain a coherent message. Their recent refusal to join the protests has been seen by many as a critical error – in refusing to ally themselves with the anger of the rising tide, they risk becoming a victim of its ire.

As Syria and Yemen struggle to maintain their antiquated status quo, the Arab world would do well to heed the knife-edge upon which Egypt is currently teetering. The twittering classes of the West, meanwhile, would do well to look elsewhere for their poster-boys.

The Occupy protesters may argue that the fight against capitalism is akin to the fight for regime change, but there is something in Tahrir Square and across Egypt that is more immediate, and more desperately tangible, than in Wall Street, Oakland or even in Edinburgh. It is easy to admire the ground swell of righteous anger, the passion and fury and sacrifice. To glorify such abject desperation, however, is offensive.