CAIRO: Activists expect a large turnout for the “Friday to Reclaim the Revolution” protest set for today, Friday September 30. Demonstrators are already amassing in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square to protest recent decisions made by Egypt's Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), including the reactivation of Egypt's Emergency Law as well as recently announced electoral procedures. Those organizing the protest hope that it will be the largest seen in Egypt since the massive demonstrations of the January 25 Revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. Three marches will set off from Tahrir Square on Friday after the noon prayer. Bassem, a 24-year-old university student told Bikyamasr.com that Friday's protest, “is the big moment for Egypt.” “If the people understand what is going on and they come out in large numbers, then this revolution that began in January will continue and we will have the new Egypt we want,” he added. Over 60 of Egypt's political groups set an October 1 deadline for authorities to oblige their political demands. They have all pledged to boycott elections if their demands are not met. “We are going to make certain the military knows the people will not be quiet until we have our country for the people,” said Salma Gabr, a 29-year-old blogger and writer. Some Islamic groups are set to join the protest. However, the Muslim Brotherhood announced on Wednesday that they would not participate in the demonstrations. According to a timeline set last February, SCAF's rule was set to expire on Friday September 30. Though the SCAF has portrayed itself as the protector of the revolution, they have faced increased criticism and pressure to transition to civilian rule. Activists were outraged by the military council's decision to maintain emergency law rule until June of 2012, keeping in line with a timeline set by the Mubarak regime. The 30-year old emergency law was set to end before elections. An end to the emergency law was one of the main demands of the protesters who ousted Mubarak last February. Activists have also called for amended election laws, and are pushing for a system of party-based proportional lists. They believe that the existing system, a mix between a party list vote and an individual candidacy vote, is vulnerable to corruption and vote buying. Some fear that this system would allow Mubarak loyalists to rise to power once more. A need for stability in Egypt has many concerned as well, as the economy suffers from losses in tourism revenues and foreign investment. Egypt's benchmark stock index ended at a 29-month low on Wednesday because of anxiety over Friday's protests. BM
