Former MP Mohamed Abou Hamed, one of the organizers of a protest against the Muslim Brotherhood on Friday, urged all citizens to defend the Brotherhood and its party's offices in order for the protest to be successful.
MENA said Abou Hamed made those statements during his meeting on Wednesday with organizers of the protest in Alexandria.
Abou Hamed said the objective of the protest is to push the Brotherhood to legitimize its status. He added that if the protest succeeds, organizers will call for the for a five-member presidential council led by Morsy, as opposed to a presidency exclusively controlled by the Brotherhood, as well as a national salvation government and constitution-writing assembly.
Meanwhile, participants in the protest expressed fears of assaults or attempts to break up their protests by Brotherhood supporters or Salafis.
The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday called on organizers to secure their protest and warned that any rioting will be met with a firm response.
The president pledged to protect the protesters, provided they abide by the law. Yasser Aly, spokesperson for the presidency, said on Wednesday that orders were given to security to protect the protesters and to punish those who violate the law. He emphasized that the presidency supports the right to protest, on the condition that the law is respected and private and public properties are kept safe.
The Brotherhood has raised its state of alert to protect the Brotherhood and the FJP’s offices around the country. Mohamed Abdallah al-Sayyaf, a member of the group’s shura Council, said the Brotherhood will rally their members to protect their headquarters in coordination with the Nour Party, Jama’a Islamiyah and other Islamist parties.
