Egypt: Clashes erupted during Islamist protests held on Friday

Islamist protests in Cairo
(Image: Huffington Post)

Egypt’s Islamist Alliance for Support of Legitimacy calling for reinstatement of Mohamed Morsy as the President, called for the protests over the week-end. Protests have been planned to be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, commemorating slain protesters on Friday, expressing support of 21 female Muslim Brotherhood detainees in Alexandria on Saturday and to support striking workers of Helwan factory on Sunday.

Protests have started on Friday after noon prayers as demonstrators got to the streets and the squares of several districts of Cairo and of other Egyptian cities as well including Suez, Fayoum, Upper Egypt cities and others.

Protesters have been holding banners with the portraits of the ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsy and the yellow hands, symbols of Rabaa  (Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square, where security forces have dispersed massive Islamist sit-in on 14 August leaving several hundred dead). Protesters have been commemorating the victims of Rabaa Al-Adaweya and Al-Nahda Squares dispersal and the following security crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood. Wave of violence sparked in the country, and many members of Muslim Brotherhood including leading figures have been arrested and detained.

Demonstrators have been also protesting harsh court verdict to 21 female protesters in Alexandria accused for attacking security forces, damaging of public and private property and inciting violence during October protests. They received up to 11 years in prison.

Hundreds of protesters have been also chanting against the military and police and against the current military backed interim government.

In Giza Muslim Brotherhood protesters have met with the rally of the supporters of Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, Egypt’s Head of Armed Forces. Clashes erupted between these two groups with the rocks and stones being thrown. Police arrived to the scene and fired tear gas in order to disperse the protesters and to stop the clashes.

Ministry of Health still didn’t release an official statement regarding the numbers of injured, but it was reportedly no casualties. Police has arrested at least 8 persons in the country.

Alliance for Support of Legitimacy has called for the three days protests, thus the fresh rallies could be possible expected on Saturday as well.