THE UNION of Maspero Youth say they have set a final deadline, 8 July, for the government to meet their demands. If the government fails to abide, they threaten to continue their protests in front of the state radio and television building, known as Maspero. "Out of our belief that we represent an integral part of this great nation... we decided to suspend our sit-in until 8 July," a statement said. Activist Rami Kamel told a press conference on Friday that "the decision to keep our sit-in on hold for a while longer was made to give the cabinet a chance to meet all the Coptic demands as agreed." Thousands of Copts held a sit-in for nearly two weeks in front of Maspero after two churches were attacked in an assault that left 12 dead. The protest came to a halt on 21 May after the government promised to meet some of their demands and ordered the opening of three churches, including one in Ain Shams. The Higher Council of the Armed Forces had ordered new laws be drafted criminalising sectarian violence and easing restrictions on building churches. The cabinet also ordered the renovation of churches damaged by violence and a number of churches that were closed in the past by authorities without explanation to re-open. Prime Minister Essam Sharaf vowed that a unified law for building houses of worship will be endorsed. Among other demands, the Union of Maspero Youth called for punishment of those involved in all sectarian crimes against Christians in Egypt over the past few years. Maspero was also the place this week for homeless protesters. The protesters are residents of Al-Nahda and Al-Salam cities who were kicked out by their landlords after the revolution. Over 1,300 families have been made homeless since. The government has provided them a temporary camp until they are granted new residences. Matters took an ugly turn after one of the homeless demonstrators drowned in the Nile on Saturday morning. The man was said to have tripped while washing his shirt after protesters were prevented from using nearby bathrooms. Angered by the incident, the protesters decided to block the street and insisted they would continue to do so until the government met their demands, including providing them proper housing in the immediate future. Until Al-Ahram Weekly went to press, the homeless were continuing their Maspero protest.
