(Photo by Mohamed Omar)
Controversial TV presenter and owner of the Al-Faraeen TV channel Tawfik Okasha visited Port Said on Friday in a show of support to families of those who died in recent clashes.
Okasha, one of the founders of Egypt’s National Party was invited by his party’s office in Port Said to meet with families of the defendants in the Port Said massacre case and of those who died and were injured during the violence.
“The people of Port Said were thrilled with Okasha’s visit, they felt his support and care,” said Ahmed El-Kiky, secretary general of Egypt’s National Party in Port Said.
He added that Okasha demanded reviewing the report issued by the fact finding committee that investigated violent clashes over the past two months.
“There are suspicions around the committee and its report which we think is inaccurate; the committee was biased,” El-Kiky claimed.
He added that tens of thousands showed up at Al-Masala Square, which came to be known as Al-Shohadaa Square, to meet and welcome Okasha; El-Kiky also said that Ultras Green Eagles, fans of Al-Masry football club, secured the square for Okasha who came to support them.
However, Ultras Green Eagles posted on their official Facebook page that they left the square after Okasha took the stage. They said Okasha was an “insignificant person” capitalising on the victims’ blood.
“The people who gathered around Okasha in the square were about one hundred, the rest were just sitting in the square, nothing to do with Okasha,” said Port Said resident Tarek El-Kotty.
Reports had circulated that Okasha was attacked, while rumours circulated of an attempt to assassinate him; however, these reports were proved inaccurate.
“A fight between two people using knives erupted after Okasha left; no one attacked him,” El-Kiky said.
