(AFP File Photo)
By Rawan Ezzat
Tamarod has invited politicians from across the political spectrum to a national reconciliation dialogue on Wednesday.
Spokesman for Tamarod Hassan Shahine said: “Our vision is that we believe that national reconciliation must take place. However reconciliation will not happen unless we get our rights from those who killed and have done wrong to the Egyptian people.”
The meeting, to be held at the presidential palace, will include representatives from Al-Azhar, the Coptic church, Salafyo Costa Salafi group and political various activists.
The Muslim Brotherhood declined an invitation to the dialogue, making the reinstatement of former president Mohamed Morsi a precondition for their attendance.
“We refuse to sit with anyone who will suggest that Morsi should return,” said Shahine. “Morsi left and the Brotherhood must understand they cannot stay like this for long.”
Wednesday’s meeting is scheduled to take place irrespective of the Brotherhood’s nonattendance. “We all need to discuss what our goal is and where we want to reach. Then we would be able to plan how to reach it,” said Shahine.
National reconciliation is widely misunderstood, Shahine said. “The main question would be reconciliation under what basis? For us, it is the arrest of all Brotherhood leaders who encouraged the killing of innocent people.”
Shahine said he hoped the meeting would bring together different leaders to “heal the mental wounds” dividing the nation. Spokesman for Brotherhood Students Sohaib Abdel Maqsood maintained: “This is a military coup and we refuse to sit with anyone who deceived the country.”
Maqsood said Tamarod was led by the armed forces to cause trouble, suggesting they were involved in clashes in Mansoura and Ramses. “Tamarod does not represent anyone and we refuse to have dialogue with them,” said Maqsood. “We would only attend if the elected president is brought back.”
