By Sara Ahmed
Demonstrators opposing Egypt’s new Civil Service Law were interrupted by security forces and pro-regime civilians as they gathered in Cairo’s Fustat Park.
Videos of the demonstration show hundreds of protesters shouting ”Dictatorship, dictatorship”, whilst waving the Egyptian flag and holding up posters.
Security forces initially tried to prevent the demonstrators from entering the park under the pretext that the demonstration had been cancelled, and that Gate 2 is the appropriate entrance to the park.
Fustat Park is renowned for being a permissible demonstration location, where protesters can hold demonstrations without notifying the government or receiving a permit beforehand.
The protest has faced several attempts to be halted, as the Centre for Trade Union and Workers Service reportedly claimed that buses were stopped by security forces.
Moreover, vehicles carrying water supplies for protesters were denied access to the park.
Members of the Tadamon coalition, which includes 20 labour and employees’ associations, announced in August a million-man march on 12 September, to protest the law.
At least 2,000 state employees from the two authorities held a demonstration against the law on 10 August, in front of the Press Syndicate in Downtown Cairo.
Public sector employees have repeatedly protested the application of the newly-implemented Civil Service Law.
