Dozens of protesters arrived at the seat of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) in Cairo’s upscale Maadi neighborhood on Monday evening to secure court headquarters.
The SCC is set to rule on challenges to the constitutionality of the Constituent Assembly and the legality of the elections of the Shura Council on Tuesday.
The Popular Current announced last week it would participate in a rally in front of the court alongside revolutionary forces, with the goal of protecting the court from Islamist attacks.
Islamist supporters of President Mohamed Morsy had besieged the SCC in early December to pressure its judges, who were scheduled to rule on appeals.
The marches to the SCC began at Hurria Square in Maadi and included members of the Popular Current, the Free Egyptians Party and the Constitution Party.
Protesters chanted slogans against Morsy, the Muslim Brotherhood and its Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie.
The Interior Ministry tightened security around the court earlier today. Nearly 500 police officers were deployed, and security sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the number of troops would increase to 1,000 on Tuesday.
Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Al-Masry Al-Youm that he would personally supervise security around the court.
SCC rulings have been pivotal during the transitional period in Egypt. Relations between the court and the ruling Islamist regime became tense after the court disbanded the Islamist-dominated People’s Assembly last June over the unconstitutionality of the Parliamentary Elections Law.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
