The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood announced Thursday that it intends to participate in Friday protests against the recent Egyptian-Saudi maritime demarcation.
The Egyptian cabinet issued a decision last Saturday that transferred Egypt’s sovereign control of Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Saudi Arabia. Politicians and members of the public criticised the government for the decision. Public outrage promoted President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to to warn against the public, in particular social media users, discussing the issue once again, in a televised speech Wednesday.
In the statement, the Muslim Brotherhood stated Sisi “sells everything to preserve his presidential seat.”
“Now is the time for all is us to unite and work together to save Egypt,” reads the Brotherhood’s statement. “Let the next Friday protests be a spark for the new wave of anger to free Egypt.”
Several Facebook events have been launched calling for protest in Egypt’s squares over the past week following the Egytpian-Saudi decision.
Following the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood regime in 2013, public protest has been restricted. Security forces have made dozens of arrests to supress any fledging protest. In November 2013, the interim cabinet issued the controversial Protest Law. Under the law, citizens must submit an application to protest to the Ministry of Interior. Any protest that does not adhere to this procedure and does not receive the ministry’ approval, will be considered an illegal assembly.
