A number of Coptic movements have announced they would be part of this evening’s large-scale demonstration that has been given the name ‘the final warning [to President Mursi]’.
A number of Coptic movements have announced they would be part of this evening’s large-scale demonstration that has been given the name ‘the final warning [to President Mursi]’.
Marches which set off at 5.00pm today from various public places in Cairo are heading to the presidential palace protest against President Mursi’s recent Constitutional Declaration which was described by liberal circles as ‘opposing public will’. They are also protesting against Mursi’s call for a public referendum on 15 December over the draft [Islamist] constitution which was rushed through to the exclusion of non-Islamist voices. The various secular political streams, and the Churches of Egypt, have all protested against the hegemony of the Islamists over the drafting of the constitution which, they said, serves their interests.
Among the Coptic youth movements participating in this evening’s demonstration are the Maspero Youth Union, the Free Copts, and Copts for Egypt.
Hani al-Gezeiri, coordinator-general of Copts for Egypt, believes that this constitution, if passed, will wipe out the Egyptian identity forever, and it will become impossible in the future to get rid of Islamist hegemony and power.
Among the secular groups joining in rally are the National Salvation Front, the Sufis, the Nubians, women’s movements, and the journalists’ and online journalists’ syndicates.
Watani International
4 December 2012