Mosques and public spaces used for the Eid prayer turned into arenas of electoral competition across Egypt’s governorates as People’s Assembly candidates distributed meat and gifts to residents of their districts, reports privately-owned newspaper Al-Dostour. The celebrations were also accompanied by a tightening security campaign against Muslim Brotherhood supporters and candidates.
In Alexandria, the Minister of Municipal Development Abdul Salam Mahgoub organized a lottery after Eid prayers, distributing 10 sheep, 10 television sets, 10 ovens, and 10 washing machines to the winners, reports Al-Dostour. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Moufid Shehab distributed a number of sheep and other gifts after praying at the Qasbahi mosque in his Moharam Beih district, according to state-run Al-Ahram. In Sohag, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Nasr Eddin Allam slaughtered 10 animals and distributed the meat to residents of his Gohayna district. Allam’s supporters also distributed a large number of children’s toys and cassette tapes to cab and bus drivers containing songs in praise of the minister. The lyrics included “Everyone loves you Nasr Eddin Allam” and “Beloved Minister of Irrigation we sacrifice our blood and soul for you,” according to Al-Ahram.
In Helwan, Minister of Military Production Sayyid Mashal attended the Eid prayer at the youth center and distributed gifts of LE10 and LE20 following the ritual, reports privately-owned Al-Shorouk. Residents raced to get the money from the minister. Al-Dostour adds that Mashal slaughtered 15 animals and distributed blankets to patients in the Nasr Hospital. His independent competitor, Mostafa Bakri, announced that he will not slaughter animals for campaign purposes and that he will perform his charity work outside of election season.
In Sohag, big prayer spaces turned into a “theater of electoral campaigning,” reports state-run Al-Akhbar. Ninety-nine public spaces dedicated for prayer turned in “carnivals” as candidates put up photographs and posters. Some disrupted the Eid prayer by moving around during the sermon. In Ismailiya, candidates prayed with their residents and raced to distribute meat. NDP candidate for the professionals’ seat in the first district brought 30 animals, according to Al-Shorouk.
In Bandar Asyout, Ahmed Sayyid Abdul Magid slaughtered 20 animals, and Adel al-Baroudi broke the record by slaughtering and distributing meat in almost all 34 villages in his district of Qawsiya, reports Al-Akhbar. In Sharqiya, candidates distributed an “enormous” amount of meat, according to Al-Akhbar. In the district of Heliopolis and Nasr city, Minister of Oil Sameh Fawzi toured mosques and distributed meat. Supporters of his Muslim Brotherhood (MB) competitor organized demonstrations, chanting “Islam is the Solution" but security forces intervened to break them up.
In Tanta, NDP candidates Yassir al-Gindi and Ahmed Shuberir occupied half the Tanta stadium, while MB candidate Sayyid Askar occupied the other half, reports Al-Shorouk. NDP candidates distributed a great deal of meat and clothes according to the report.
MB candidates in various governorates distributed various greetings cards with the following phrases: “The real Eid is the day of change,” “Islam is the Solution,” and “Our next Eid with Palestine,” reports Al-Shorouk. In Beheira, MB candidates established their presence by hanging decorations in various mosques and distributing prizes.
At the same time, however, the security campaign against MB candidates and supporters continued in several districts. Al-Dostour reports that hours before the Eid prayer, state security forces interrupted MB candidate Mahmoud Attiya and his supporters in Alexandria, arresting three of his supporters and breaking Attiya’s arm. In the Raml district of Alexandria, state security personnel forcibly entered the campaign headquarters of MB candidate Sobhi Saleh–who is running against NDP candidate and Minister of Municipal Development Abdul Salam Mahgoub. According to Al-Shorouk, state security forces confiscated all of Saleh’s campaign materials. In response, Saleh launched a strong attack against the government during the Eid prayer in Seyouf–attended by 5,000 residents. Saleh accused the government of engaging in criminal activities to ensure the success of NDP candidates.
In the Cairo district of Hadaek El-Kobba, security forces arrested five supporters of MB candidate Amr Zaki, while they were distributing greeting cards to residents of the districts, according to privately-owned Al-Shorouk. Zaki condemned the arrests, describing them as “consecutive kidnappings” of his supporters. Twenty-one MB members were arrested in Sharqiya, and one was arrested in Kafr Al-Sheikh, according to Al-Dostour.
Finally, Wafd party and independent candidates in Ismailiya’s second and third districts found their campaign materials torn and asserted that they had been targeted by supporters of NDP candidates, reports Al-Shorouk.
