Photo by Hassan Ibrahim
Thousands of demonstrators marched to Tahrir Square on Friday to continue to express their disapproval of President Mohamed Morsy’s constitutional declaration. Protesters also criticised the controversial proposed constitution, which the Constituent Assembly passed in the early hours of Friday morning.
Protesters arrived at the square after Friday prayers from neighbourhoods around Cairo and chanted against the Constituent Assembly, President Morsy, and Mohamed Badie, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Former Presidential Candidate Khaled Ali led chants in a march that departed from Al-Fath Mosque in downtown Cairo. “We haven’t become tired, the blood of our brothers isn’t free,” he chanted along with those marching around him.
Demonstrators also chanted “Jika,” the nickname of Gaber Salah, who died last Sunday after sustaining brain damage from birdshot used by police in clashes with protesters.
Abdel Nasser Hegazy, a protester who came from Port Said to join the march, said he was motivated to come by the violence he had witnessed in his city. “We tried [Hosni] Mubarak for the killing of protesters. He didn’t personally kill any, but he permitted it.” said Hegazy. “Morsy is guilty of the same.”
Flags including those from Al-Dostour party, the Strong Egypt party, the Egyptian Current party, and the Social Popular Alliance were flown at the head of the march.
Large marches came from Shubra and Mohandessin, with former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi taking part in the Mohandessin march, which departed from Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque.
Mohamed ElBaradei and Sabahi both addressed protesters in Tahrir later in the day, as people continued to arrive.
Volunteers from parties and movements, donning neon yellow vests, secured entrances to the area as others erected watchtowers to monitor security and potential sexual harassment in the square.
A number of non-Islamist groups have announced open-ended sit-ins, demanding that the president rescind the decree that granted him unprecedented powers. The president has reiterated that the decree is temporary and is intended to facilitate the country’s transitional phase after the adoption of a constitution and new parliamentary elections.
Clashes with police, which had continued for more than a week in areas nearby Tahrir Square, came to an end as security forces constructed a wall of concrete blocks on Simon Bolivar Square.
