A number of political parties, protest and youth movements, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood announced a million-man demonstration today in Tahrir Square dubbed the “Friday of Trial and Cleansing.”
Intended to put continued pressure on Egypt’s transition rulers to dissolve former President Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party, release political prisoners, and put corrupt former regime officials to a swift trial.
University students and professors will also take part in the demonstration, marching from Cairo University to Tahrir Square. Students at public and private universities have been protesting to demand a shake-up of university administrations. Families of some of the revolution martyrs are planning a sit-in at the square to demand that former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and other officials responsible for the decision to shoot demonstrators be put on trial.
The Free Front for Peaceful Change, a revolution movement, announced that a mock “people’s trial” of Mubarak, which they began last week, will resume today. Judge Mahmoud al-Khodeiry, head of the Alexandria judges’ club, will preside over the proceedings.
Essam al-Sherif, spokesman of the Youth for Justice and Freedom, accused the Muslim Brotherhood of trying to capitalize on the success of last week’s trial by joining in this week. Al-Sherif points out that the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafis, and some political parties, such as Al-Wafd and Al-Tagammu, did not participate in the “Friday to Save the Revolution” last week.
Wafd Party President Sayyed al-Badawy said that the party will mobilize its members in various governorates and will transport them on buses to Tahrir Square to participate in the demonstration. The National Democratic Front Party and the Ghad Party have also announced that they will participate.
The Muslim Brotherhood and other groups are also mobilizing people to take to the streets. The Civil Democratic Coalition to Save the Revolution in Alexandria is urging people to participate in a march from Qa’id Ibrahim Mosque after the Friday prayers.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
