Egypt’s police forces arrested at least 28 people in protests nationwide Friday.
Security forces dispersed four marches in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and arrested 22 people. Police also arrested three in Fayoum and three others in Upper Egypt’s Minya in similar demonstrations.
Protests also took place in Cairo and Giza, most notably in Al-Haram Street.
The Ambulance Authority said that no casualties were reported.
The anti-government National Alliance to Support Legitimacy (NASL) earlier announced a new round of protests — dubbed “Students are the Knights of the Revolution” — starting Friday ahead of the new academic semester.
Egypt passed a protest law in November 2013 putting regulations on organising protests and giving the interior ministry powers to prohibit any protest or change its time and location.
Hundreds have been arrested under the law’s provisions. Many activists and groups that deem the law too restrictive have called for its amendment.
Meanwhile, the government launched a crackdown on Islamists following former president Mohamed Morsi’s ouster, banning the Muslim Brotherhood — the lead group in NASL — and putting many of its members on trial for inciting violence, including its top leaders.
The Brotherhood opposes the current government and deems the popular military-led ouster of Morsi — who hails from the group — a “coup.”
The group has officially maintained that it is committed to peaceful demonstrations.
Source : Ahram online
