Employees of Egypt's Ministry of Culture in Assiut organized a demonstration to protest against financial and administrative corruption within the ministry as well as the non-application of the new minimum wage and the 200 percent bonus which should be issued to all government employees. Demonstrators called for ousting the regional ministry head and some even called to replace Minister of Culture Emad Abu Ghazy. Ahmed Abdel Mutagali , a lawyer working in the ministry, said promises made by ministry officials to 300 demonstrators on February 20 have not been fulfilled. He said that the demonstrators are protesting against the fact that five months have passed since these promises were made and little has improved within the ministry. Mohamed Shafee, another ministry employee, said the protestors want greater transparency and accountability in financial dealings within the ministry, all ministry decisions by the regional head of the ministry be announced to employees and that employees be given a greater role in decision making. The protestors issued a statement detailing their demands, which also suggested methods by which they can be achieved. Essam Hammam of the ministry said, “Corruption cannot continue in the way it has in spite of it being pointed out months ago.”
