Protests continued for the second day on Wednesday in North Sinai Governorate, calling for the release of detainees long held by security services.
A number of Mahdeya villagers, south of Rafah city, blocked the road and set tires on fire, insisting they would head for the town of Sheikh Zowayyed and stage a huge protest.
Attempts made by National Democratic Party MPs in Rafah to convince protesters to end the demonstration failed.
Abu Mohamed, one of the protest organizers, said the MPs had given false promises. "They talk to us without pressing officials to release the detainees, which is the reason for the unrest in Sinai over the past years," he said.
Umm Eid, one of the women participating in the protest, said, “I only have one request, which is to release my son detained five years ago. He has a family. None of the current or former MPs asked about us–it's as if they fear dealing with us."
Four-year-old Mona said, “I want my father back from Wadi al-Natroun [a famous Egyptian prison].”
