The following photographs were taken in Cairo in February 2012.Egyptian children hang around following street clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud street next to Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIME
Gone are the accolades of heroism and courage that just one year ago greeted Egypt’s so-called “Facebook youth” when they led the popular uprising against the authoritarian regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Of that emotional and miraculous 18-day revolt, many proud Egyptians say the youth succeeded where decades of repressed and compromised opposition parties had not.
But 12 months later, Tahrir Square is a ravaged and frustrated version of its former self. Egypt’s youth movement is struggling to keep the revolution going, challenging the ruling military council the only way they know how—through protest. But with the country’s economy and stability sliding further into turmoil, the youth heroes of yesterday are failing to win the hearts and minds of the Egyptian majority today. Instead, many say they’re desperate to move on from the square.
Abigail Hauslohner is TIME’s Cairo correspondent. Find her on Twitter @ahauslohner.
Dominic Nahr is a contract photographer for TIME, represented by Magnum Photos. You can see more of his work from the Egyptian revolution here.
The following photographs were taken in Cairo in February 2012.Egyptian children hang around following street clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud street next to Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEEgyptian medical teams take care of injured youths during street clashes off Mohamed Mahmoud street next to Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEYoung Egyptian martyr posters can be seen on the ground in Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEThe shadow of a man can be seen on a tent as others meet in the background. The tent city of Tahrir has decreased in size over the past month.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMETwo young Egyptian men walk past a popcorn vendor in Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEA studio TV crew prepares for the program 'Direction,' presented by Amro Shinawi, in the TV building where over 20 state TV programs are produced. Approximately 46,000 people work inside the building and are protected by barbed wire and Republican Guard soldiers.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEA young Egyptian stands atop road barricade near Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMETwo boys sleep during the day in the tent city in Tahrir.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEA TV playing Egyptian dramas in a cafe in old Cairo.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEA building alongside Tahrir can be seen through the holes of a large banner in the square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEEgyptian boys stand on cement blocks that have been destroyed following street clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud street next to Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEA view of Tahrir Square with a small number of protesters, street vendors and cars, on the one-year anniversary of—and at approximately the same time as—when President Mubarak stepped down.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMETwo boys take positions behind a wall during street clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud street next to Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEEgyptian youths watch and pray along with a large group of Egyptians after speeches in Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIMEEgyptian youths watch an assembled crowd while holding a flag and a martyr poster in Tahrir Square.Dominic Nahr—Magnum for TIME
