Members of the parliament representing the governorate of Port Said defended protesters who took the streets in their hometown on Tuesday, against sudden increase in the prices of flats that were part of a social housing programme.
“Those protests were not directed against the state or the army. There were no chants against the military or President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi or state institutions,” read a copy of the statement published by state news agency MENA.
The MPs said that some media outlets wrongly portrayed the issue, adding that the citizens of Port Said decided to stand up to those trying to manipulate them.
Nearly a dozen demonstrators were arrested on Tuesday night for protesting against price increases forced upon them by the Housing and Development Bank (HDB), for houses that had previously been booked and for which they had paid deposits.
Those arrested are being investigated and could face charges for obstructing roads, under the controversial Protest Law.
