Supporters of the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces beat with shoes and verbally attacked the media figure and presidential hopeful Bothina Kamel as she participated in a protest march headed towards the Ministry of Defense, state-owned al-Ahram newspaper reported Friday evening.
The incident took place at Hadayek al-Quba as SCAF supporters tried to stop protestors from yelling slogans against the ruling council, according to Ahram.
In a tweet, Kamel confirmed the attack, but said she was not harmed and that the intention of the young men seemed to “terrify” her and other protestors but nothing else.
Earlier, armed forces soldiers surrounded marchers in Kubri al-Quba area on their way to Abbasseya and the ministry, preventing hundreds of protestors from moving forward Friday evening, according to an Egypt Independent reporter on the scene. The march included groups coming from Heliopolis and Ramsis square.
At one point protestors stopped for to watch a video production put on by the Kazeboon (Liars) Campaign, showing footage of security forces beating protestors. The campaign calls the leading military generals "liars" for their denial of the use of violence against protestors.
The military tightened security around the Defense Ministry , the council’s headquarters, Friday in anticipation of large marches to mark the "Friday of Departure," during which protestors called for an immediate transition to civilian power. A number of armored vehicles were deployed, and barricades and barbed wire were placed in front of Ain Shams University, which is located on the same street as the ministry.
Protestor Azza Hamed, 46, told Egypt Independent that she is protesting because she believes nothing has changed since the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) came to power. She also said she supports calls for strikes and boycotts beginning on Saturday.
“Egypt’s youth is being killed,” she said.
Protestors chanted “Down with military rule” and “The people want to execute the field marshal,” referring to the head of the SCAF, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi. They also held banners calling for acts of civil disobedience and a general strike on Saturday, with a number of them distributing leaflets explaining the planned protest measures.
Participants in another march from Fatah Mosque in Ramses Square said they had been afraid of being assaulted by "thugs" along the way.
"There are iron barricades at Abbasseya Street; we received information as well that a group of thugs are waiting for us there," said Essam al-Sherif, one of the march's organizers. He said the march changed course to avoid a confrontation.
Throughout the day, thousands also demonstrated in the central Tahrir Square.
