Supporters of President Mohamed Morsi continued demonstrating in front of Rabaa Al-Adaweya for the second straight Friday. The demonstration, dubbed “legitimacy is a red line,” was organised by the Freedom and Justice Party, the Building Development Party, Al-Wasat Party, and other groups who oppose calls for early presidential elections.
“The opposition needs to avoid violence when it demonstrates,” said Assem Amr, a 22-year-old demonstrator who said he had come to Nasr City in support of Morsi’s legitimacy. “They shouldn’t threaten any Islamist group or the president himself,” he added.
“The people chose [President] Morsi and he came by way of the ballot box,” said Mohamed Abdel Baky. “Millions came out and supported him so he needs to be given the amount of time he was promised,” he said. “We need to respect our new constitution, which is a contract between the people and the president.”
Speakers on the stage at the rally going into Thursday night included Assem Abdel Maged, a member of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya who spearheaded the Tagarod Movement, a petition movement started to counter Tagarod.
The demonstrations come ahead of opposition protests scheduled for Sunday, calling for the president to call for early elections.
Opposition to the president began protesting in Tahrir Square on Friday, while violence in Alexandria and other cities between rival factions left five dead and over 400 injured going into Friday evening.
Photos by Aaron T. Rose