A major Egyptian youth movement has called on fellow citizens to participate in a protest on Friday against a new law that prohibits demonstrations and strikes.
The 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition, which led the 18-day revolution against the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said "The Friday of Cleansing" protest will be held outside the Egyptian Radio and Television Union in Cairo to urge the government to repeal the ban on public protests and strikes, the Al-Masry Al-Youm daily reported on Thursday.
The Egyptian Cabinet on Wednesday ordered a law criminalizing protests and strikes, according to which anyone inciting, organizing, promoting, or calling for a protest will be sentenced to jail or be fined for LE500,000 ($84,000).
The new law, which has not yet been approved by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is "a serious indicator of a political direction that will act as a barrier against any real democracy, which the people have the right to practice,” the movement said in a statement.
This is "an unacceptable and unjustified setback to the revolution's achievements, while at the same time, some of the labor protesters should have given the government a chance to meet their demands in light of the difficult economic situation now facing the country," the statement added.
The coalition also stated that protesters on Friday will demand the resignation of all officials loyal to the former regime and express their solidarity with assaulted students in Cairo University, who attempted to stage a sit-in on Wednesday to call for the resignation of the dean of the university.
On Sunday, Egyptians overwhelmingly voted in favor of constitutional amendments in a historic referendum weeks after Mubarak handed over power to Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
The military council has promised a swift transition to civilian rule, however, critics have taken a less sanguine view of the promise, saying that demonstrations will continue until all their demands are met.
They say all political prisoners must be released and an investigation launched into the conduct of officials responsible for the violence used against civilians.
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