Egypt’s Islamist groups are divided over participation in the demontsrations planned for 9 September by a number of political groups to protest the prosecution of civilians before military courts.
While the Salafi Front has said it will not participate, other Islamist groups, including the Freedom and Justice Party, the Construction and Development Party, the Nour Party, the Asala Party and the Nahda Party, said they will take their final decision after the Eid.
Khaled Saeed, spokesperson for the Salafi Front, said the group will not take part because some of the demands to be voiced during the protest do not enjoy concesus among political powers, such as postponing the parliamentary elections, scheduled for November, and the immediate transfer of power to a civilian government.
But Saeed said the group will resume protests against the killing of Egyptian soldiers in an Israeli border raid in August. He added that after the current crisis with Israel has been resolved, the group will continue its campaign against supra-constitutional principles proposed by liberal parties.
The Islamist groups threatened to take all possible legal and political action should the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) approves a new constitutional declaration based on the principles proposed by secular and liberal powers.
Adel Afify, chairman of Nahda Party, said the party would adopt all means possible, including protests. He said the debate on the constitutional document and Egypt’s identity as a civil state should stop.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
