A group of political parties and movements announced on Sunday their plan to demonstrate in governorates across Egypt on the second anniversary of the 25 January revolution under the slogan, “No to the ‘Brotherhoodization’ of the state.”
The Interior Ministry, meanwhile, has vowed to clearly confront any acts of violence.
The parties and movements, of which there are 16, said in a press conference at the Journalists Syndicate, that marches will be held in each governorate in front of city halls, while they rejected all calls for 25 January to be a day of celebration.
There will be four marches in Cairo all heading to Tahrir Square, from Shubra, from Imbaba going by Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque, from Ramses Square, and from Maadi.
Participants at the press conference called on the people to rise up again to defend the revolution and confront the ruling Muslim Brotherhood, “a group that seeks to falsify history.”
The statement accused the Muslim Brotherhood of seeking to monopolize and cement their rule with a Constitution that does not guarantee economic rights. It went on to describe them as “continuing with the corrupt Mubarak regime and its businessmen.”
A number of groups and parties signed the statement, including the Congress Party, the People's Alliance, the Social Democratic Party, Free Egyptians and Karama. Movements that signed the statement include the Popular Current, the Revolutionary Socialists, the National Association for Change, Kefaya, Youth for Justice and Freedom, April 6, among others.
Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said in a press statement Sunday that an extended security plan to secure peaceful demonstrations was in place, in accordance with directives from the prime minister.
He stressed, however, that any riots or violence will be dealt with harshly, in accordance with the law.
Police forces will not be in Tahrir Square, Ibrahim said, but security checkpoints will be placed outside the square to arrest ‘criminal elements’ and prevent them from infiltrating the demonstrations.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
