The Anti-Coup Alliance (ACA) called upon its supporters to hold million man marches and funeral prayers on Tuesday to commemorate the seven protesters who were killed in clashes with police during the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations.
The alliance, which pledges allegiance to former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, saluted the protesters who “surprised” the security forces.
“We confirm that the peaceful masses, which stood strong for two years, is able to resist the militias of Al-Sisi,” a statement by the alliance mentioned. During the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, six died in the Talbiya and Nahia clashes, according to the Health Ministry.
A casualty in Nahia, named Hossam Al-Akbawi, was said to have been celebrating the Eid prayers when riot police stormed the village, chasing the alleged protesters. His funeral was attended by hundreds, who chanted against the regime.
The official narrative, presented by the Ministry of Interior, however argued that approximately 400 protesters in Talbiya and Nahia used bird-shot and firecrackers against civilians, who in return, clashed with them. The clashes led security forces to “deal” with the situation, which resulted in the death of six civilians.
An Interior Ministry press office representative told Daily News Egypt that there were clashes between civilians, and that security forces were directed to the location of the clashes and dealt with the matter.
In Kerdasa on the same day, meanwhile, another protester was killed in an exchange of fire between “Muslim Brotherhood supporters” and security forces, according to the Kerdasa security chief.
While Talbiya is a working-class neighbourhood known for weekly pro-Morsi protests, Kerdasa and Nahia are among many villages which are considered by the regime as “strongholds for the Brotherhood”.
On Sunday, state media reported that four young men were arrested in the Cairo train station while posing with the Rabaa Al-Adaweya sign, and their phones searched. The four were residents of Sharqeya, Minya, and Qaliubiya. State media added that the police found further footage of the Rabaa Al-Adaweya sign and “anti-state and pro-Muslim Brotherhood” pictures.
The detainees are currently being held in the Azbakeya police station, awaiting referral to the prosecution.
Later on the same day in the governorate of Gharbeya, six alleged Muslim Brotherhood members were arrested while possessing anti-government flyers, “that incites rioting and violence”, police said. They are also accused of protesting without permit, and are currently undergoing interrogations.
