CAIRO: Tens of thousands of Egyptians started flocking to Tahrir Square early on Friday in what is being dubbed as the “Friday of Determination.” Thousands have already performed the Friday noon prayer in the square ahead of the heat and more people are expected to arrive throughout the day in what is to be a massive demonstration. Thousands are expected to protest in other major squares around the country, in cities such as Alexandria, Suez and Ismailia. Egyptians are protesting the non-application of the “Azl” law, or political isolation, which allowed imprisoned ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafiq to run in the presidential elections and becoming a finalist. The law that was passed in April by the lower house of Parliament and approved by the ruling military council bans top officials affiliated with the former regime of taking part in the political scene in Egypt for 10 years. This should have included Shafiq. Egyptians are also protesting the acquittal of 6 top officials in the case of killing protesters during the 18 days of uprising in January 2011. The same case saw Mubarak and his minister of interior Habib al-Adly receive life sentences – 25 years in the Egyptian penal code. Some activists entered a hunger strike and started a sit-in outside the parliament in downtown Cairo until the law is implemented, aiming to increase pressure on the state and military. The High Constitutional Court is expected to give its final verdict on the law after the army appointed elections committee passed the law onto them. If the court passes the law, Shafiq will be automatically out of the race. Al-Shorouk news website quoted a high ranking source inside the military council as saying they will adhere completely to the court's decision and if the law is passed, a re-election will take place. Later on Friday, the square will host an anti-sexual harassment protest in opposition to attacks on female protesters during the past week in the square. The protesters are also demanding the cleansing of the legal system.
