A group of Egyptian activists planned to travel to Arish in North Sinai yesterday to pray the Eid el-Fitr prayers with the people of Arish in a show of solidarity and to emphasize that the Sinai Peninsula is Egyptian land. The group formed a Facebook page called, ‘We'll pray Eid prayers in Arish.' Eid el-Fitr is the three-day feast following the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The group of activists gathered in Cairo's Ramsis Square on Monday, the last day of Ramadan, at 1pm to start their journey to Arish. They sang national songs and waved Egyptian flags until they arrived at the gates of Ismailia governorate. At a military checkpoint, activists were asked to show their IDs. They were then turned away and prevented from continuing their journey. Military police told the activists the situation was not safe in Arish and they could be attacked or hurt. The activists argued with the military police and tried to convince them that their journey was to support the people of Arish and not to start any protest. The police insisted the precautions were for the activists' safety. Eventually the military police distributed meals to the activists so they could break their fast. They then returned to Cairo to pray in Tahrir Square and to celebrate their first Eid after Hosni Mubarak's February resignation.
