Dozens of protesters in Ismailia closed the governorate agriculture and ministry department Sunday, as well as the real estate and public tax authorities, and halted train traffic amid a growing civil disobedience campaign.
Several marches have been staged in Ismailia over the past few days calling for civil disobedience, coming amid reports that Public Notary offices in the city have refused petitions from residents authorizing Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run the country. The Justice Ministry has denied such reports.
The governorate has been rocked by protests against President Mohamed Morsy’s rule since demonstrations marking the two-year anniversary of the 2011 uprising in January. Clashes have also been ongoing in Port Said and Daqahliya Governorates as well.
Calls for civil disobedience in Ismailia have also been made in solidarity with a similar campaign in Port Said, where strikes have been ongoing since 40 people were killed during clashes in January. The clashes broke out after a court sentenced 21 local residents to death for their involvement in the Port Said stadium violence, where 72 Ahly Club fans were killed in February 2012.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
