Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Protesters remind MPs of revolution's demands
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 01 - 2012

CAIRO: Parliamentarians had to push their way through protesters early Monday, as hundreds gathered to press for demands, with more pouring to the streets surrounding the parliament building throughout the day.
In front of the heavily guarded parliament premises, the site of a deadly crackdown on a sit-in a month earlier, demonstrators chanted for bread, freedom and social justice. The same chants had dominated the Jan. 25 uprising a year earlier.
Different groups took to the streets, each with a different set of demands.
About 400-500 supporters of the Islamist parties dominating 70 percent of the seats greeted their MPs, chanting in their support.
Hundreds of family members of the revolution martyrs and representatives of 52 coalitions and political movements organized a march from Abdel Moneim Riad Square to parliament headquarters.
Protesters of the "retribution" march roamed the streets around Tahrir Square, the iconic epicenter of the revolution, to join three other marches demanding social justice, an end to military trials and freedom of artistic expression.
Protesters chanted "we either get their rights or die like them," reminding the elected Members of Parliament of martyrs' rights.
"We helped them reach their positions in the parliament by electing them. Therefore, they should reclaim our children's rights," Mona Tawfik, mother of Mohamed Morsi who was killed in front of Al-Marg police station on Jan. 28, said.
Shaker Abdel Fattah, father of Mostafa who was killed on Jan. 28, the Friday of Anger, said that he joined the protest to urge the parliament to dedicate its first session to discussing mechanisms to retrieve martyr's rights.
The march demanded that Field Marshal Hussien Tantawy, head of the military council, step down and hand over power to parliament and for the swift trials of those who killed protesters.
"Mubarak's trial is a charade. The police officers who killed our sons are still in the streets and they are still saying that Mubarak is president," Sanaa, mother of Moaaz El-Said who was murdered on Jan. 28, told Daily News Egypt.
According to Hisham Al-Kashef, a protester, the march reached parliament voice to MPs the revolution is ongoing until demands are met.
Throughout the day artists marched from the Cairo Opera House as did workers, labor leaders and doctors from the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU) in Qasr El-Eini Street.
All groups called for social equality and freedom of expression. Many chanted against ministry rule and called on SCAF to hand power to civilian government.
Demands also included setting minimum and maximum wages, re-nationalizing privatized companies, monitoring the interior ministry's actions as well as health and education reform
“We are here to ask for social justice. We as doctors need parliament to reconsider the Ministry of Health budget, and to monitor and help end corruption. This parliament only has two choices: to stand with us revolutionaries or conduct under the table deals. But even if they choose the latter, we are monitoring them,” said Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud.
Arguments broke out between protesters and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which won a majority of seats.
“The FJP called on us to go to parliament to greet our new members and also … in case of tension, because we read on Facebook that there are calls for massive protests. We will also be present during the Jan. 25 [protests] to prevent any tensions,” said Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, FJP member.
Hundreds of Egyptian artists made clear their rejection of any attempts to curb freedom of expression.
“We feel that the identity is endangered in an Islamist-majority parliament. … We aim to pressure Islamists [now] and not wait before it's too late. Under Islamist rule, you cannot predict what kind of laws will be passed,” said actress Moataza Abdel Sabour.


Clic here to read the story from its source.