Hundreds of activists staged a surprise march from Shubra to downtown Cairo Tuesday against the broadening of Egypt's long-standing Emergency Law.
Organizers circulated a Facebook invitation calling for surprise protests ahead of demonstrations planned for 30 September under the slogan "Reclaiming the Revolution."
On 11 September, Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) broadened the Emergency Law to apply to charges of thuggery, obstructing traffic, and disseminating false information through media outlets.
About 500 participants in the march chanted slogans including "Down with military rule." They demanded that the government end Egypt's three-decade state of emergency and halt military tribunals for civilians.
Some demonstrators organized traffic when they reached Tahrir Square.
Members of the April 6 Youth Movement, Youth for Change, Kefaya, and Youth for Justice and Freedom participated.
Canceling the Emergency Law has been a key demand of political activists and human rights groups for years. The law, originally applied for national security, remained in place throughout former President Hosni Mubarak's regime and was often used to suppress opposition and persecute activists.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
