CAIRO: The imam of the Omar Makram mosque, Mazhar Shahen, led the Friday prayer today of which was attended by thousands of Muslims from Tahrir Square. Thousands of Egyptians headed to Tahrir Square to protest in today's 'Friday of Unity.' Shahen said during his sermon that today's protest is the best evidence of showing that Egyptians are aware of the attempts of bringing about separation and strife. All political groups have participated today to assure that all of Egyptians agree on the same demands, he said. These demands, he added, include publically trialing members of the former regime, following the corruption cases and transferring former president Hosni Mubarak from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo. Shahen also highlighted popular unity and will. He said that only the Egyptian people will decide on Egypt's destiny. The Egyptian army is a red line because they always protect revolutions, said Shahen as he confirmed the unity of the Egyptian people and the army. Shahen said Egypt's Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf, will be given a chance to achieve the demands of the January 25 Revolution. Shahen also claimed that the Egyptian people have the right to take decisions and decide the fate of Egypt. He sent a message to Israel saying it is the time for it to be afraid because of the unity of Egyptians. He also asked all protestors to unify and reject separation. "Egypt is Islamic and Islamic means that Coptic Egyptians live peacefully in Egypt," said Shahen. Shahen said that the second article of the Egyptian constitution, which states that Islam is the religion of the state, cannot be removed or changed. The second article of the constitution also states that Arabic is the state's official language and that the principal source of legislation is Sharia law (Islamic jurisprudence). Protestors in Tahrir Square also held prayer for the martyrs of the revolution.
