Opposition and revolutionary groups are organising only two marches this Friday, as some figures saying they are reserving their organisational strength for a million-man protest planned for the anniversary of President Mohamed Morsi’s inauguration on 30 June.
The marches started from Mostafa Mahmoud mosque in Mohandiseen after Friday prayers and Dawaran Shubra at 2pm. Both heading towards Tahrir Square in Downtown Cairo.
The Shubra march will pass by the Maspero state television building and will commemorate the victims of sectarian attacks in Al-Khosous last month.
The main focus of the marches, however, is raising awareness for the Tamarod campaign, a petition-based venture aiming to withdraw confidence and popular legitimacy from President Mohamed Morsi.
The campaign’s organisers aim to gather 15 million signatures, more than the 13 million who voted for Morsi in the second round of presidential elections, in time for 30 June in an effort to pressure him into calling for early presidential elections.
Organisers announced on Sunday that they had collected 2,029,592 signatures nationwide already.
Friday’s marches will also demand early presidential elections and the release of all political prisoners such as activists Ahmed Doma and Hassan Mostafa.
The two marches were announced at a Thursday press conference and are organised by several political parties such as the Al-Dostour, Free Egyptians, and Egyptian Social Democratic parties, as well as groups like Al-Tayar Al-Sha’aby, the 6 April Youth Movement, the Maspero Youth Movement, and others.
According to the press conference, these marches are intended to be the beginning of a large wave of protests until 30 June culminating with a million-man protest in front of the presidential palace to call for early presidential elections, at which point the opposition hopes to have gathered the 15 million signatures.
Other marches are planned for Friday, one at 3pm from Tahrir Square to the Ministry of Justice demanding the release of political prisoners, planned by the “Revolutionary Ultras” group and another planned by Sufi orders following Friday prayers from Sayeda Zeinab to Tahrir Square.
