By Nourhan Dakroury
Minister of Justice Ahmed Suleiman held a press conference on Wednesday to renounce violence and urge the public to remain peaceful in the upcoming 30 June protests.
Suleiman said that peaceful demonstration is a constitutional right for all citizens, according to Article 50 of the constitution, reported Aswat Mariya.
He added that following the constitution will keep the country safe, and will protect it from “drowning in the seas of chaos.”
Suleiman asked security officials to protect national institutions and belongings, stressing that articles 61, 245 and 246 of the penal code give them “the right to respond to any attack.”
He added that public facilities belong to all Egyptians, and that keeping them safe is a way of protecting their money and work.
The minister urged all protesters to remain alert for individuals who might try to “sneak in between them in order to stir up trouble and start acts of violence,” adding that this would jeopardise the non-violent approach of the protests.
Suleiman added that the ministry hopes that protesters would hand over vandals or violent offenders to the police.
He concluded the conference by saying that the Egyptian people aspire to achieve stability in the country, and to see the end of violence and illegal acts.
