Former Egypt presidential hopeful Hazem Salah Abu Ismail called on Egyptians to gather in Tahrir Square on Friday to protests the bloodshed of last Friday in Abbassiya, when the army forcibly evacuated the sit-in initially called for by Abu Ismail to object banning him from running for the presidency. The sit-in witnessed violence previous to Friday when it was attacked on Wednesday by unknown militants who killed at least 15 people and injured 200. “I call every one to gather and perform the Friday prayer in Tahrir square in response to the dire state of the recent events,” the ultra-conservative Salafist leader said. “I will be there despite my health condition,” he added. His call for protests was met with rejection and dismissal from commentators and online activists. Conservative Abu Ismail has been under heavy fire from the media and activists after the sit-in turned bloody and he was held accountable for it. Following the initial signs of violence he addressed his followers saying they should go home if there they were there for his sake. Abu Ismail was banned from running for Egypt's top job after the presidential committee said his mother used a foreign passport to enter the country previously and that violates the rules for running, as it states both parents should be Egyptians and neither is a holder of duel citizenship.
