MB protesters denounce Sisi candidacy amid pro-Sisi revelry

Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters sporadically took to the streets on Friday in an attempt to protest former military commander Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s decision to run in the upcoming presidential elections.

But as their protests soured with violence, Sisi supporters took to the streets as well to celebrate his candidacy. The former defense minister garnered wide popularity last summer when he ousted the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated and elected President Mohamed Morsi from power.

In Tahrir, the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA) and several television channels showed jubilant groups celebrating Sisi's presidential bid and chanting against the Muslim Brotherhood. Pictures of Sisi and Egyptian flags covered the square.

But nothing other than celebration was tolerated in Egypt today, and opposing protests were marred by violence.

Clashes reportedly broke out in Helwan, south of Cairo, between Brotherhood supporters and police forces, according to the privately owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm (AMAY). Live fire was reportedly exchanged between the two sides.

A march of Brotherhood supporters started after Friday prayers, AMAY’s website reported. The protesters chanted slogans against the Armed Forces and the police, and raised signs denouncing Sisi. When violence began to erupt, Brotherhood supporters were pursued by police forces into the side streets amidst terrorized area residents.

Brotherhood protests also took place in the east Cairo neighborhood of Nasr City, home to the sanguine memory of the Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in that demanded Morsi's reinstatement. It was forcibly dispersed on August 14, resulting in the deaths of hundreds.

Mada Masr witnessed a small march of a 100 people there, which was quickly dispersed by police using tear gas. Similar incidents were reported by MENA on Haram Street.

Violent protests took place outside of Cairo as well. In Zarqa, a village north of Cairo in Damietta, the state-owned Al-Ahram news site reported clashes between protesters supporting the Brotherhood and area residents, who reportedly blocked a main road. The residents were angered by the protesters throwing Molotov cocktails and breaking shop facades, according to Al-Ahram.

Protesting has become doubly costly for the Muslim Brotherhood since the passing of a law criminalizing protests last November, and the designation of the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization shortly thereafter in December, a decree that outlawed all of the organization’s activities.