Sheikh Mazhar Shahin today led the Friday prayer in the iconic Tahrir Square before nearly 15,000 demonstrators scattered around the main platform. “Demonstrators in Tahrir will not forget the blood of the martyrs and they will continue to demand retribution,” said Shahin, calling on the Egyptian judiciary to arrange fair trials for those who committed violations against peaceful demonstrators during the January 25 Revolution. Shahin also alluded to reports that testimonies are being changed in the trial against former regime officials and ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and stressed the importance of protecting witnesses and legal procedure. The Sheikh also demanded that parliamentary laws be amended so that fair and bribery-free elections can move forward. He also demanded that former members of the dissolved National Democratic Party be banned from political life. The preacher stressed the importance of handing power to a civilian government, but assured residents not to be fearful of or disrespectful toward the ruling military council. The Star of Sinai should be conferred upon the families of the martyrs and the martyrs themselves, he added. He finally added that he will continue to support the revolution as a demonstrator and a preacher while chanting, “Muslims and Copts are united in One Hand.”
