Islamist and non-Islamist powers go back to Tahrir Square

While some hope that the 20 April protest in Tahrir will unite the pro-revolution political spectrum in Egypt, some fear that Islamists will use the protests for narrow self-serving agendas

Over 30 political groups and parties from Islamist, liberal and leftist powers in the country have announced that they will participate in the upcoming mass protests Friday in Tahrir Square as well across the country in what many hope could be the start of a new national consensus on the direction of Egypt post-Mubarak.
In an attempt to put all political differences behind them, most of the political currents that will participate this Friday in Tahrir agreed on the bulk of the protest's demands, like protecting the revolution's goals and standing against the return of Mubarak regime icons in the presidential elections, like former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, as well as demanding SCAF hand over power in late June 2012 as announced, without any delay due to problems in drafting a new constitution.
The non-Islamist political powers and parties that announced they will participate in the protest are the Coalition of Revolutionary Forces, the National Front for Justice and Democracy, the Popular Committees for the Defence of the Revolution, the Revolution Youth Coalition, the Revolutionary Socialists, theSocialist Popular Alliance Party, theEgyptian Social Democratic Party,El-Adl Party, and the Justice and Freedom Youth Movement.
On Wednesday more than 20 political powers and parties from liberal and leftist forces in Egypt issued a joint statement declaring demands to be pressed in the protest, saying “No for the constitution under military rule” as well criticising both the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The demands of liberal and leftist powers and movements included issuing the "Disfranchisement Law" barring former regime figures from top political jobs, as well as holding former regime icons accountable, ending emergency law, cancelling Article 28 of the March 2011 Constitutional Declaration that governs the upcoming presidential elections, and forming a Constituent Assembly to write the constitution that would represent all sectors of Egyptian society.
The Revolution Youth Coalition announced on its official Facebook page that different marches in Cairo and Giza will start at certain mosques and squares after Friday prayers and head to Tahrir Square, including a march from Giza Square and another from Mostafa Mahmoud Square.
'Islamist' enforcement
The Islamist political powers that announced they will participate in Friday's protest are the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, theFreedom and Justice Party(FJP), the Salafist Front, the Salafist Al-Asala Party, the Salafist Al-Fadila Party and Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiyya.
Islamist parties and powers already organised last Friday a mass demonstration that most if not all liberal and leftist forces boycotted as they believed it was served the Islamist agenda, especially that of the Muslim Brotherhood in their fight with SCAF regarding the Constituent Assembly and the presidential candidacy of Brotherhood leader Khairat El-Shater
The Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement Wednesday on its official website calling on the Egyptian people to participate in Friday's protest in order to protect the revolution and its goals as well to force SCAF to dismiss Kamal El-Ganzouri's cabinet and to appoint a government from the parliamentary majority elected by the people. The Brotherhood's FJP is the biggest single party in parliament while Islamists form the absolute majority at about 70 percent of all seats.
The Salafist Front also issued a statement on its official Facebook page Wednesday calling on all Egyptians to participate in the protest in Tahrir Square and all other squares in the country to fight the return of Mubarak regime remnants and their control in the country.
A group of Suez activists and protesters have already started a march on foot from the city of Suez to Tahrir Square. About 20 activists from different political groups in Suez, including the 6 April Youth Movement and Suez Youth bloc headed to Cairo Wednesday night on foot accompanied with a doctor and scouts to help them in their long “revolutionary march.”
Among the demands of the marchers is releasing all detainees convicted in military courts, cancelling Article 28 of the Constitutional Declaration, barring all Mubarak regime remnants from running for political office, and ensuring fair representation of all currents of Egyptian society in the Constituent Assembly.
The campaign of presidential hopefulHamdeen Sabahi announced that he will lead a march to Tahrir Square from Dokki while the campaign ofAbdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouhannounced that it will participate in the protest in Tahrir Square.
The campaign of disqualified presidential candidate Hazem Saleh Abu-Ismail announced their participation in the protest, objecting to the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) that confirmed Abu-Ismail's exclusion from the presidential race Tuesday.
Fears of clashes and hijack
Despite hopes that the day could see political powers and parties unite behind common goals, some fear — especially non-Islamist political powers — that Islamist parties may hijack the day as in some previous protests (notably 29 July 2011).
MP Mostafa Al-Naggar of El-Adl Party told Ahram Online that he and the party will withdraw from the protest Friday if they find it hijacked by Islamists with an agenda, like protesting on Khairat El-Shater and Abu-Ismail's right to candidacy in the presidential elections.
There are also fears that there will be clashes between angry Abu-Ismail supporters and security forces, especially that some of Abu-Ismail's supporters online spoke about heading to the State TV building in Maspero and blocking 6th of October Bridge. Despite these threats, Abu-Ismail and his campaign called on supporters to remain peaceful in protest.
Abu-Ismail's supporters already have started a sit-in at Tahrir Square, objecting against the ejection of the famous Salafist preacher from the presidential race because of his mother's US citizenship.
In statements to different TV channels and newspapers Wedensday, members of the Revolution Youth Coalition like Khalid Abdel Hamid, Khalid Talimah and Shady El-Ghazli Harb expressed their concern that Islamist powers and parties may not stick to the unified goals of the protest, noting how the Muslim Brotherhood and Abu-Ismail supporters are planning on having two separate stages in Tahrir Square.
The fear of Islamist domaniance made many young Egyptians express doubt whether they should go and protest or not, saying that the protest could be used to fulfill the Muslim Brotherhood's agenda of have a Freedom and Justice Party-dominated cabinet, or to fulfill Abu-Ismail supporters' goals of forcing SPEC into accepting the Salafist leader as a presidential candidate.
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