Archive for Cairo University

Islamist forces are organizing three mass demonstrations in Cairo, Alexandria and Assiut on Tuesday, titled “National Consensus,” in support of President Mohamed Morsy’s push to complete a constitutional referendum by 15 December.

Helmy al-Gazzar, secretary general of the Freedom and Justice Party in Giza, said a Brotherhood march will take off from Rabaa al-Adaweya Mosque in Nasr City to join another march organized by Salafis from Rashdan Mosque. The group expects the demonstrations to number in the millions.

On Saturday last week, tens of thousands of Islamists gathered at Renaissance Square in front of Cairo University to support Morsy's 22 November constitutional declaration. Thousands of supporters were bussed into Cairo from outside governorates to increase the protest's numbers.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members gathered in front of the Rabaa Adawiyya Mosque in New Cairo on Friday evening in order to support President Mohamed Morsy, and to ask that the referendum on the country's draft constitution not be delayed past its appointed date of 15 December.

Brotherhood members said the group would remain at the mosque, and would only march to the presidential palace if protesters broke into it.

As of late evening, thousands of protesters remained in front of the presidential palace in New Cairo. 

Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood student organization at Cairo University, said he had received directions to come to the mosque in order to show support for Morsy.  

The demonstrators carried pictures of the president and banners supporting him, including "Egyptian people supported your decision Oh Morsy," and "you are the legitimate president."

Earlier Friday, protesters removed barriers set up by army forces, reaching the presidential palace. Army forces said they would forcibly remove protesters if the demonstration remained peaceful.

Friday's marches, dubbed the day of "red card" for the president, in reference to the soccer disqualification come after a week of unrest.

In the past week, clashes ensuing from Morsy's constitutional declaration have led to the death of six people and the injury of hundreds.

The most severe fighting was on Wednesday, when a group of Morsy supporters attempted to clear a sit-in protesting the draft constitution and Morsly's declaration, by force, which incited a street battle with rocks, birdshot guns, and other weapons.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm 

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The Cairo University Law School has submitted a formal request to suspend all work and lectures at the school to protest against what they call President Mohamed Morsy’s attack on the judiciary.

Law School Dean Mahmoud Kebeish submitted the request, signed by law school professors, to university president Hossam Kamel, but the university council has not yet met to approve or deny the request, Kebeish said.

“The school professors submitted a request to me demanding the suspension of lectures at the school due to the Muslim Brotherhood’s attacks on the law,” Kebeish told Al-Masry Al-Youm. “I submitted the professors’ request to the university president so an official decision would be taken. We are waiting for a date when the Dean’s Council would meet to review the request.”

“We are a law school. Professors are convinced that there is no benefit to studying law as long as it’s attacked by the regime,” Kebeish added.

The dean denied submitting his request to Morsy directly. “We don’t practice policy. We’re an educational institute. I submitted the request to the authority in question, which is Cairo University’s Deans Council.”

On Saturday, Morsy announced the draft constitution would be put to public referendum on 15 December.

The Supreme Constitutional Court decided on Sunday to suspend its sessions indefinitely as protesters were surrounding the premises, which prevented the judges from reviewing lawsuits on the dissolution of the Shura Council and Constituent Assembly.

Mass rallies held a night-long sit-in in front of the court as part of the pro-Morsy “legitimacy and Sharia” protest on Friday.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Protests against the constitutional referendum are planned to be staged in Tahrir Square, the presidential palace and Abdeen Palace on Wednesday.

In addition to protesting President Mohamed Morsy calling for a public referendum on the constitution draft approved by the Constituent Assembly last week, the rallies would also call for the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated assembly and the cancellation of Morsy’s 22 November decree granting himself wide-ranging powers and exemption from judicial oversight.

Opposition forces plan to stage marches from Mostafa Mahmoud and Estiqama mosques in Giza to Tahrir, and from Raba’a al-Adaweya Square in Eastern Cairo to the presidential palace in Heliopolis. Some protesters in Tahrir would also march to Abdeen Palace.  

Popular Current spokesperson Hossam Moanes said that several political figures would take part in the march to the presidential palace.

Mahmoud Afify, spokesperson for the April 6 Youth Movement Ahmed Maher Front, said marches from Nour Mosque in Abbasseya, Matareya Square, Saray al-Qubba and Ain Shams University will meet in Raba’a al-Adaweya, then head to the presidential palace.   

“The Muslim Brotherhood takes advantage of Egyptians being kind and emotional, like what happened in the Cairo University protest,” Afify said. “They rallied the poor from all the governorates to chant slogans without thinking.”

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Thousands of people have gathered outside Cairo University in the largest show of support for President Mohamed Morsy since his election in June, cheering him and his constitutional declaration and harshly criticizing the secular opposition, private media and the judiciary.

The demonstration was marred, however, by the death of one demonstrator after a tree fell on a stage set up for the rally.

An Interior Ministry satement said that the accident occurred at 3 pm when demonstrators climbed on one of the trees, and that 15 others also suffered injuries.

A steady stream of Morsy supporters marched in groups through Dokki towards Cairo University down Dokki Street throughout the afternoon.  At one point, a large procession of marchers took up both lanes of the flyover bridge at Midan Dokki, waving Egyptian and Saudi Arabian flags and chanting in support of the president and Sharia. Morsy's supporters also waved flags and banners from the cabs of trucks and the backs of motorcycles, and buses packed with demonstrators could be seen headed towards the university.

Protesters chanted, “We want it Islamist,” “"The people want God's Sharia," “Morsy has the legitimacy” and “We are the majority.”

"You have the media attacking us and we have God supporting us," read a sign at the rally.

The large number of the protestors gives more confidence to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was shocked by the big turnout of anti-Islamists taking to the streets twice last week opposing Morsy’s decision to grant himself sweeping powers.

The march was augmented by dozens of buses carrying thousands of Morsy supporters from Delta governorates north of Cairo. Buses had previously parked by mosques on the Agricultural Road entrance to Cairo, backing up traffic near the ring road.

Morsy's opponents canceled demonstrations previously-scheduled demonstrations in the same area. Amr Said Shaher, the official spokesperson for the Moqawma (resistance} movement, said that more than eight movements and political parties, including the Revolutionary Socialists, Kefaya, and April 6 Youth Movement, the Constitution Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the People's Alliance Party, all canceled student marches from Cairo University to Tahrir Square in protest to the Constitutional Declaration.

According to Shaher, the marches were originally schedule to leave the university at 2 pm but were canceled for fear of clashes between the marchers and pro-Morsy demonstrators.

Hundreds of demonstrators had earlier began arriving in front of the Renaissance Statue in Giza, next to Cairo University, for the demonstration.

Islamist parties and political forces organized the demonstration, which they dubbed “legitimacy and Sharia,” and participants displayed various signs and banners supporting the president’s recent decision granting himself broad powers.

Demonstrators also chanted, "Islamist [state] everywhere," "Islamist [state], against injustice and tyranny," and “God is great, people [support] the decisions of the president."

The pro-Morsy protests were originally to be held in Tahrir Square, which was the scene of massive anti-Morsy demonstrations on Friday, but according to the Brotherhood organizers changed the location to avoid a confrontation.

Tens of thousands of protesters had marched to Tahrir Friday, calling for the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly that approved the draft constitution earlier in the day, and condemning "dictatorial Morsy". Anti-Morsy protesters gathered again in Tahrir Square early on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry decided on Saturday to shut down the Giza Zoo, the main gate of which is located in front of the Renaissance Statue, due to the demonstrations.

Official sources at the General Authority for Veterinary Services said that 13 Central Security vehicles and a fire truck were asked to protect the animals and historical trees from any attempts to storm the zoo. The zoo will open its gates to visitors again on Sunday.

Additional reporting by Justin Shilad.

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Dozens of buses carrying thousands of demonstrators from the Delta governorates gathered in the city of Qalyub, in Qalubiya Governorate, to head together to Cairo University to participate in the mass demonstration in support of President Mohamed Morsy and his 22 November constitutional declaration.

A large numbers of buses parked by mosques on the Agricultural Road at the entrances to Cairo, leading to traffic backup near the entrance to the ring road, while large numbers of demonstrators got off of buses and headed toward mosques while waiting for the rest of the buses to arrive.

At the same time, Amr Said Shaher, the official spokesperson for the Moqawma (resistance} movement, said that more than eight movements and political parties, including the Revolutionary Socialists, Kefaya, and April 6 Youth Movement, the Constitution Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and the People's Alliance Party, all canceled student marches from Cairo University to Tahrir Square in protest to the Constitutional Declaration.

According to Shaher, the marches were originally schedule to leave the university at 2 pm but were canceled for fear of clashes between the marchers and pro-Morsy demonstrators.

Hundreds of demonstrators had earlier began arriving in front of the Renaissance Statue in Giza, next to Cairo University, for the demonstration.

Islamist parties and political forces organized the demonstration, which they dubbed “legitimacy and Sharia,” and participants displayed various signs and banners supporting the president’s recent decision granting himself broad powers.

Dozens of buses carrying Muslim Brotherhood members from other governorates arrived at the university. Demonstrators held signs expressing their support for the decisions of the President, including, “The Muslim Brotherhood supports the decisions of the President," "People of Beni Suef support President Morsy," "People of Fayoum support the president" and "The people support the decisions of the president."

Demonstrators also chanted, "Islamist [state] everywhere," "Islamist [state], against injustice and tyranny," and “God is great, people [support] the decisions of the president."

Demonstrators built a platform in front of the main gate of Cairo University and another next to it, while groups of young people acting as security and wearing neon vests fanned out around the edges of the demonstration to protect participants and direct traffic, which was moving at normal speed at the time of reporting.

The pro-Morsy protests were originally to be held in Tahrir Square, which was the scene of massive anti-Morsy demonstrations on Friday, but according to the Brotherhood organizers changed the location to avoid a confrontation.

Tens of thousands of protesters had marched to Tahrir Friday, calling for the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly that approved the draft constitution earlier in the day, and condemning "dictatorial Morsy". Anti-Morsy protesters gathered again in Tahrir Square early on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry decided on Saturday to shut down the Giza Zoo, the main gate of which is located in front of the Renaissance Statue, due to the demonstrations.

Official sources at the General Authority for Veterinary Services said that 13 Central Security vehicles and a fire truck were asked to protect the animals and historical trees from any attempts to storm the zoo.

The zoo will open its gates to visitors again on Sunday.

Edited translation from MENA and Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Hundreds of demonstrators began arriving in front of the Renaissance Statue in Giza, next to Cairo University, for a protest supporting President Mohamed Morsy’s 22 November constitutional declaration.

Islamist parties and political forces organized the demonstration, which they dubbed “legitimacy and Sharia,” and participants displayed various signs and banners supporting the president’s recent decision granting himself broad powers.

 

Dozens of buses carrying Muslim Brotherhood members from other governorates arrived at the university. Demonstrators held signs expressing their support for the decisions of the President, including, “The Muslim Brotherhood supports the decisions of the President," "People of Beni Suef support President Morsy," "People of Fayoum support the president" and "The people support the decisions of the president."

Demonstrators also chanted, "Islamist [state] everywhere," "Islamist [state], against injustice and tyranny," and “God is great, people [support] the decisions of the president."

Demonstrators built a platform in front of the main gate of Cairo University and another next to it, while groups of young people acting as security and wearing neon vests fanned out around the edges of the demonstration to protect participants and direct traffic, which was moving at normal speed at the time of reporting.

The pro-Morsy protests were originally to be held in Tahrir Square, which was the scene of massive anti-Morsy demonstrations on Friday, but according to the Brotherhood organizers changed the location to avoid a confrontation.

Tens of thousands of protesters had marched to Tahrir Friday, calling for the dissolution of the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly that approved the draft constitution earlier in the day, and condemning "dictatorial Morsy". Anti-Morsy protesters gathered again in Tahrir Square early on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry decided on Saturday to shut down the Giza Zoo, the main gate of which is located in front of the Renaissance Statue, due to the demonstrations.

Official sources at the General Authority for Veterinary Services said that 13 Central Security vehicles and a fire truck were asked to protect the animals and historical trees from any attempts to storm the zoo.

The zoo will open its gates to visitors again on Sunday.

Edited translation from MENA and Al-Masry Al-Youm

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The Muslim Brotherhood has decided to move Saturday’s protests in support of President Mohamed Morsy’s constitutional declaration to Cairo University, the group announced on its official English Twitter on Thursday evening.

Some feared that violence could erupt between Islamist demonstrators and revolutionary activists, also protesting in Tahrir against the decree that gave Morsy sweeping, unprecedented powers. Three have already died in violent clashes in Cairo and other governorates between pro and anti-Morsy protesters.

Nader Bakkar of the Salafi Nour Party said that his and other Islamist groups had also decided to move their protests to the vicinity of Cairo University this Saturday.

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The US Embassy in Cairo said it would stop providing various services on Tuesday because of the security situation in Cairo, it announced over Twitter on Monday.

“There will be no visa or American citizen services tomorrow, Tuesday, 27 November,” the embassy tweeted, explaining that its decisions were “due to the security situation around the US Embassy.”

Opponents of the constitutional declaration issued by President Mohamed Morsy on Thursday called for mass demonstrations and marches on Tuesday in Tahrir Square, while the Muslim Brotherhood called for a mass rally on the same day in front of Cairo University to support the president’s decisions.

The embassy is located close to Tahrir Square in Garden City and was the scene of violent protests two months ago after the film “Innocence of Muslims,” by US-based producers, was released on YouTube.

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The Interior Ministry warned against what it claimed were calls to break into government buildings Monday, when activists plan to memorialize last year's clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud Street.

So far there have been no calls to enter government buildings, but peaceful marches from Cairo University to Tahrir Square have been planned.

The ministry’s media spokesperson said the Interior Ministry has reassured protesters many times that it firmly believes in peaceful and legitimate freedom of expression, without attacking the freedom of others, their interests or public facilities.

He added that the ministry took all necessary measures to protect its premises in accordance with the provisions of the law and that police were trying to ensure safety and security for all citizens, while urging protesters not to heed the alleged calls to break into government buildings.
 

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