Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi held nationwide marches and protests on Friday, on a day dubbed “Martyrs’ Friday” by the Anti-Coup Alliance, however turnout was low.
In a statement from the group, supported by the Muslim Brotherhood and others who support the reinstatement of Morsi, the alliance called on Egyptians to “to condemn the blatant lies and brutal crimes of the coup, to overthrow the coup, and to triumph for the blood of the martyrs.”
The group also said it would continue protesting against the change in power and “expose” crimes carried out by the government.
Marches in both Giza and Cairo began following Friday prayers, and did not feature a common meeting point.
Armoured army and police vehicles blocked off certain areas in Cairo including Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque, the presidential palace, Tahrir Square, and Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque, where one of the group’s 28 marches had been planned.
Marches also took place throughout various governorates, where protesters held up signs with yellow backgrounds behind four fingers, an adopted logo commemorating the violent dispersal of Rabaa Al-Adaweya earlier this month.
The Friday demonstrations came following a week in which prominent members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested, including the group’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, Hassan Al-Brens, Safwat Hegazy, spokesman Ahmed Aref, and Ahmed Abu Baraka.
In its statement the Anti-Coup Alliance condemned the “arbitrary arrests and barbaric raids” on the homes of political figures.
