By Heba Fahmy
CAIRO: Artists and intellectuals were prevented from holding a peaceful sit-in in Talaat Harb Square on Monday in solidarity with the victims of the church bombing in Alexandria that left 23 dead and over 90 injured.
Dozens of riot police were scattered around Talaat Harb Square, and officers informed the protesters that they need an official clearance from the Ministry of Interior to hold a sit-in in that area.
“We were going to hold a peaceful sit-in [on the sidewalk] so it wouldn’t affect traffic, and still we were prevented by officers,” Samir Abdel Baqi, a poet and playwright, told Daily News Egypt.
“It’s very frustrating that you have to have [official clearance] to freely express your opinion,” he added.
Officers followed the protesters and urged them to move further away from Talaat Harb Square until they reached Karim El Dawla, a side street off of Mahmoud Bassiouni Street.
Approximately 40 protesters were surrounded by a cordon of riot police as they gathered to hold candles.
The protesters decided to chant slogans that called for both national unity and the resignation of Interior Minister Habib El-Adly — in defiance of the security forces that prevented them from having a silent sit-in in Talaat Harb square.
“We are a group of artists and intellectuals holding a peaceful sit-in … we’re not holding guns or bombs, we’re holding candles,” Amal Khaled, member of the Egyptian Writers’ Union, told Daily News Egypt.
Members of Al-Tagammu Party joined the demonstration, spurring some of the artists to accuse them of exploiting the sit-in in order to achieve political gains.
“We came here to support the victims of Alexandria’s terrorist church attack and to protest against the security forces repression of protestors,” said Assistant Secretary General of Al-Tagammu Party Mohamed Farag.
Around 20 protesters from Al-Tagammu Party shouted anti-government slogans from the balcony of the party’s headquarters, which is located on Karim El Dawla Street.
“I want to tell all the Egyptians, Muslims, and even the terrorists, [that] we [Copts] love you because Jesus Christ taught us to love you,” Sameh, a Copt social worker, told Daily News Egypt.
“Jesus said love your enemies, but Muslims are not our enemies,” he added. “[Muslims are] our neighbors and friends.”
