Alexandria--Amid waning public support and deep political divisions, thousands of protesters staged various demonstrations after Friday prayers at the Qaed Ibrahim Mosque in Alexandria. Members of the 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition in Alexandria gathered to commemorate the martyrs of the revolution while calling for the prosecution of National Democratic Party members and police officers responsible for killing protesters. Egypt's second city had witnessed massive demonstrations and helped to topple the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak. Around 87 people were killed in the port city during the revolution, according to official figures from the Ministry of Health, but other estimates put that number much higher. “This day is designed to praise the souls of people who lost their lives against the Mubarak regime. We feel that it is necessary to remind people of the martyrs and to tell them that the revolution hasn't finished yet,” said political activist Yasser Abdel Kawy. Protesters also called for dismantling the National Democratic Party, Egypt's ruling party from 1978 until Mubarak resigned and handed control to the military in February. “We can't sacrifice our martyrs and we can't leave the revolution to be stolen. What you can see now is that the Mubarak's regime hasn't completely fallen yet,” said student Mohamed Metwaly, a member of the youth coalition. Bystanders asked the protesters to end the demonstration at the mosque, saying that any further demonstrations would put the country in turmoil. “We have achieved big goals such as ousting Mubarak and dissolving his infamous [State Security Investigations Services]. Now it's time to start working and not causing other rounds of chaos,” said Hazem Ibrahim, a lawyer who was attending the Friday prayers at the mosque. “Look at this scene! Is this a scene for the revolutionary Egypt?” Ibrahim asked, pointing at street vendors who blocked the area surrounding the mosque. “We've failed to convince them to have a corner and not to block the way in front of protesters. They [street vendors] argued that nobody has to force them to leave,” argued Ragaey Farag, a student who participated in the demonstrations. However, the large number street vendors, who brought various electric goods, underwear and kitchenware to sell, are not the sole problem according to Metwaly. “This is the first time to witness physical clashes between protesters. We were here during the revolution. We were united. Now the Salafi movement wants to impose their way of thinking against us,” said Metwaly, referring to the conservative Islamist movement. Salafi activists called for a parallel demonstration in front of the same mosque to oust Deputy Prime Minister Yehia al-Gamal because of his “secular” views. The Salafi movement is similar to that of the Wahabi in Saudi Arabia in its adherence to a more extremist version of Islam. Alexandria is a stronghold for the movement, which had been apolitical under Mubarak's rule, but now is beginning to engage in the political scene. Recently, Salafis have organized many public lectures discussing their view on politics, announcing earlier this week that they would form a political party and field candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Brief verbal and physical scuffles erupted between the Salafis and other demonstrators Friday. Asked about the much smaller number of protesters compared to the crowds drawn to revolution protests, Abdel Kawy said “the debate over the referendum has managed to divide public opinion and now people are really confused. In Alexandria the average public opinion expresses mistrust in all the political debate in the country, which is seen as a tool for widening the gap among political forces.”
