The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) and the al-Kateeba al-Teebiya (the Theban Militia) Coptic youth movements are organising a march for next Friday 11 November to commemorate the Arbaeen, the passage of 40 days since the Maspero massacre in which 27 Christians were killed and some 300 injured
WATANI International
9 November 2011
The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) and the al-Kateeba al-Teebiya (the Theban Militia) Coptic youth movements are organising a march for next Friday 11 November to commemorate the Arbaeen, the passage of 40 days since the Maspero massacre in which 27 Christians were killed and some 300 injured. Commemorating the Arbaeen of the dead is an Egyptian tradition that goes back to Pharaonic times and was related to the process of mummification.
The peaceful march will start at 2:00pm from Abbassiya, in front of the St Mark Coptic Cathedral, to music by a brass and drum boy scout band of the Coptic Church. The scouts will carry the Egyptian flag and the participants will be dressed in black, white and red: the colours of the national flag. Public figures, youth and political movements will participate in the march. Andrawus Eiwida, a member of the MYU, said that the theme of the march will be: “The Friday of the Martyrs” and the families and friends of the martyrs and the injured will participate alongside all levels of the Egyptian people.
Mina Thabet, member of the MYU’s media committee said that all the participating movements have agreed that no religious slogans or symbols are to be used, only civic symbols and demands. He added that the march is expected to end by 9:00 pm in Tahrir Square and the marchers will clean up the square before they go home.
The MYU is also planning a Nile parade on the evening of Thursday 17 November, the eve of the Arabeen proper, which falls on 18 November. The parade will feature a number of Nile boats lighting candles and sailing down river from Khalafawi, Shubra to stop in front of Maspero where they will cast flowers into the water to commemorate those who died on 9 October.