CAIRO: Following threats of collective suicide, a group of protesters representing people with disabilities were told they would meet Prime Minister Essam Sharaf later on Monday. The protesters are demanding the enforcement of a law allocating a five percent quota of government jobs to people with disabilities. Egyptians with disabilities, who have demonstrated regularly outside cabinet following the Jan. 25 uprising and staged sit-ins under the former regime, threatened to set themselves ablaze. They said they have been trying to meet the Prime Minister since Wednesday and are losing hope of ever meeting officials. “We've lost hope in life. Should we be denied mercy because of our disability?” Ashraf, one of the protesters said. Mohamed Lotfy claimed that a car coming out of the cabinet premises late Sunday hit him and another protester. The other one fell to the ground on the spot, while he landed on the hood of the car, which kept moving until it slowed down at a nearby square when he was able to jump off. Both didn't show visible injuries when interviewed by Daily News Egypt on Monday. Lotfy said this incident led to the decision to threaten collective suicide the following day. Ashraf explained why he was ready to set himself ablaze. He said he was discharged from his job at Minya University after working there for 19 years. The father of two also says he supports his sister and mother. Since he was fired in 2008, he has been given the runaround by government officials. It wasn't the first time for him to protest outside cabinet, he said. After “failing to put food on the table” for his family, he said setting himself ablaze was the only solution left. Mohamed Sayed, one of the protest leaders, said they waited for an hour before they were told they would only meet one of the premier's consultants. They were later told they would have an opportunity to meet Sharaf in person later in the evening. The promised meeting with Sharaf had not taken place by press time.
