Tens of thousands protested in Alexandria on the “Friday of Persistence” in front of the Leader Ibrahim Mosque, demanding retribution for the martyrs of the Egyptian revolution and insisting on achieving the rest of the revolution’s demands.
All major political forces and movements participated in the protest, excepting Jama'a al-Islamiya.
Protesters in Alexandria split into three groups: the first went to Manshiya Square, the second went to the Northern District and the third staged a sit-in in front of Leader Ibrahim Mosque. The third group included the April 6 Youth Movement, The Popular Democratic Movement for Change, the Revolutionary Socialists Party, Mohamed ElBaradei Support Committee and the Al-Azhar Independent Scholars Front.
The political groups demanded on preserving the achievements of the revolution, retribution for martyrs, purging the interior ministry, setting minimum and maximum wage rates, increasing pensions, stopping military tribunals for civilians, and the release of political prisoners. They also renewed calls for speedy trials of Mubarak regime officials, with ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his family being the most pressing demand.
“People want to purge the country,” and "People want the regime down,” slogans once heard before the fall of Mubarak, could be heard echoing from the crowd. Among the banner signs held up were “Retribution,” “No to oppressing martyrs' families,” and "No to former regime symbols”.
Security forces and ambulances did not appear in Manshiya Square, except for one ambulance that came to transfer a protester to a hospital for heat exhaustion.
Sheikh Ahmed al-Hamalawy emphasized right to protest and criticized the trials of former regime symbols, saying that the slow pace of the trials was motivating the protesters. He denied stories being circulated that martyrs' families have taken blood money in return for dropping cases against police officers.
Some Salafi youths participated in the protest, distributing leaflets calling for the preservation of public order and protection of public and private facilities.
Salafi preacher Yasser Metwally told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Salafi movements changed their stances and decided to participate in the protest after Salafi sheikhs in Alexandria agreed with other political forces not to raise the slogan of "The Constitution First" and not to chant against the military.
Another factor behind their participation, he added, were “the mock trials and the release of former regime symbols.”
Metwally pointed out that the Salafis will refuse to participate in the sit-in.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
