CAIRO: The Free Egyptians Party said it will not participate in Friday's demonstrations. Organized by Sufi movements and various political powers, the August 12 demonstrations are intended to defend the civil state in Egypt and are ‘For Egypt's Love.' Founded in the wake of Egypt's January 25 Revolution, the Free Egyptians Party was established by prominent Coptic Christian telecom tycoon Naguib Sawiris. The party has asked other political parties not to attend demonstrations during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The party is asking others to take advantage of Ramadan to empower national productivity and the Egyptian economy. In a statement, the party said it always stood by the civil state and will never compromise on this issue no matter the pressures. The party said historical responsibility obliges Egypt's political powers to unify and preserve the goals of Egypt's January 25 Revolution. The Free Egyptians Party denounced the July 29 demonstrations, during which Egypt's fundamentalist Salafi sect called for turning Egypt into a religious state. In related news, Deputy Prime Minister Ali el-Selmi said protesters can hold their Friday protest outside the parliament building instead of in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, to avoid any clashes or sit-ins in the square. Tahrir Square was the epicenter of the January uprising that overthrew Egypt's 30-year president and his regime. Around 40 political parties and coalitions have announced their participation in Friday's demonstration.
