Dozens of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square on Friday in what was dubbed the Friday of Retribution for the Martyrs.
The protest was called for by the Association of the Victims of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Rule, according to state-run news agency, MENA. This group and another movement which goes by Azhareyoon Ma’a Al-Dawla Al-Madaneya both endorse a campaign called “Boycott products of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis and save the Revolution.”
The campaign released a list of over 25 companies Thursday, calling on people to boycott them. It is set to be officially launched during the protest today.
Today’s protest calls for early presidential elections, dismissal of Prime Minister Hisham Qandil’s government, amendment of the constitution and attaining the rights of martyrs, according to ONA news agency.
Mohamed Abdallah Nasr, the spokesperson of the association, posted on Facebook a call for the protests for the freedom of the detainees and retribution for the martyrs.
The Building and Development Party media spokesperson, Khaled Al-Sherif, said his party will not be taking part in the protests. “We believe million man rallies at this point are hindering the path of the state…this period needs calm,” he said. “But of course, we are with retribution for the martyrs,” he added.
Spokesperson for the 6 April Democratic Front Mohamed Youssef also said his movement will not participate in today’s protests. He said ever since the 2011 Revolution the mechanism among revolutionaries has been to take to the nearest square which may have rendered the idea ineffective. “We are coming up with new mechanisms. They will be peaceful of course… We are trying to move revolutionary thinking from the squares to every house,” he said.
He said the 6 April Democratic Front is currently preparing for the activities planned for next 30 June. President Mohamed Morsi was officially sworn in on 30 June, 2012. On the first anniversary of his rule, the opposition plan to take to the street to call for the end of his rule.
