Egypt's Brotherhood supporters mark anniversary of Mohammad Mahmoud massacre
Supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood will pay homage to the 'martyrs' of the Mohammad Mahmoud street massacre, despite an ongoing crackdown against dissident by the Egyptian government.
3 min read
Protesters gather at the second anniversary of the clashes [Archive/Getty]
Pro-Muslim Brotherhood activists have said they will participate in demonstrations on Thursday commemorating the fourth anniversary of the 2011 Mohammad Mahmoud street clashes, despite an ongoing crackdown against dissident by the Egyptian government.
Members of Utras Nahdawi, a pro-Brotherhood youth movement, have said they will pay tribute to over 100 protesters who were killed in November 2011 by security forces during the bloody week of clashes in Downtown Cairo.
January 25 revolutionaries have often accused the leaders of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood of standing by idly while protesters were massacred by army soldiers.
"We are going to take part in the fourth anniversary of the Mohammad Mahmoud protests, which many young Muslim Brotherhood members were involved in, even though some people have tried to say the Brotherhood betrayed protesters during the clashes," Utras Nahdawi member, Abd al-Fattah Ali, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
Ali added that despite the old dispute between the Brotherhood and other revolutionary groups, Utras Nahdawi members would still mark the anniversary.
"The events of Mohammad Mahmoud were an extension of the January 25 revolution and a time when all of us learnt from our mistakes," Brotherhood leader, Ahmad Rami, said.
"This anniversary we have to remember the positives, such as the true political vison the majority of the revolutionaries had."
"There were young members of the Brotherhood that were not held back by ideologies and political interest and stood shoulder to shoulder with their comrades during the protests," Rami added.
Many left-leaning political parties have announced they would not honour the anniversary because of the harsh government crackdown on opponents.
A spokesperson for the centrist Strong Egypt Party, founded by former Islamist presidential candidate Abd al-Moneim Abou al-Fotouh, announced the party will not take part in any events marking the anniversary because "the political climate is not suitable", according to al-Araby al-Jadeed's Egypt correspondent.
Leader of the Revolutionary Socialists Party, Mahmoud Ezzat, said the ongoing government crackdown against the opposition and the Islamists made it difficult to organise protests.
In September, the walls bearing graffiti on Mohammad Mahmoud street of many killed protesters were demolished to the dismay of many activists.
For many, the Mohammad Mahmoud clashes were emblematic of the military transition period, whereas the revolution had deposed former president Hosni Mubarak.
Many kept protesting for the next year and a half against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which governed post-revolution Egypt and many perceived as continuing Mubarak's repressive regime.
Members of Utras Nahdawi, a pro-Brotherhood youth movement, have said they will pay tribute to over 100 protesters who were killed in November 2011 by security forces during the bloody week of clashes in Downtown Cairo.
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This anniversary we have to remember the positives such as the true political vison the majority of the revolutionaries had - Ahmad Rami |
"We are going to take part in the fourth anniversary of the Mohammad Mahmoud protests, which many young Muslim Brotherhood members were involved in, even though some people have tried to say the Brotherhood betrayed protesters during the clashes," Utras Nahdawi member, Abd al-Fattah Ali, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
Ali added that despite the old dispute between the Brotherhood and other revolutionary groups, Utras Nahdawi members would still mark the anniversary.
"The events of Mohammad Mahmoud were an extension of the January 25 revolution and a time when all of us learnt from our mistakes," Brotherhood leader, Ahmad Rami, said.
"This anniversary we have to remember the positives, such as the true political vison the majority of the revolutionaries had."
"There were young members of the Brotherhood that were not held back by ideologies and political interest and stood shoulder to shoulder with their comrades during the protests," Rami added.
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| Graffiti of protesters killed in the clashes [Getty] |
Many left-leaning political parties have announced they would not honour the anniversary because of the harsh government crackdown on opponents.
A spokesperson for the centrist Strong Egypt Party, founded by former Islamist presidential candidate Abd al-Moneim Abou al-Fotouh, announced the party will not take part in any events marking the anniversary because "the political climate is not suitable", according to al-Araby al-Jadeed's Egypt correspondent.
Leader of the Revolutionary Socialists Party, Mahmoud Ezzat, said the ongoing government crackdown against the opposition and the Islamists made it difficult to organise protests.
In September, the walls bearing graffiti on Mohammad Mahmoud street of many killed protesters were demolished to the dismay of many activists.
For many, the Mohammad Mahmoud clashes were emblematic of the military transition period, whereas the revolution had deposed former president Hosni Mubarak.
Many kept protesting for the next year and a half against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which governed post-revolution Egypt and many perceived as continuing Mubarak's repressive regime.
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