Protesters tear down Sisi posters, rebuke interim govt for inflation, power cuts

Hundreds of protesters identified by media sources as supporting the Muslim Brotherhood marched in Sharqiya and Daqahlia on Friday, in response to the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy’s call to take to the streets to “boycott the bloody presidency.”

The cities of Hessaneya, Faqous, Zagazig, Abou Hammad and Hahya all witnessed protests after Friday prayers, reported the privately owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm (AMAY).

Demonstrated chanted against the military and police as they raised posters bearing the image of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, and the black and yellow four-fingered salute representing the deadly Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in. As they marched, protesters tore down posters promoting Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for president, AMAY reported.

In the town of Meet Ghamr in Daqahlia Governorate, demonstrators allegedly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood organized a human chain to denounce the “military coup.” They held up posters rebuking the interim government for rising inflation rates and worsening power cuts, and also set ablaze the flags of the United States and Israel. They called for the immediate release of all detainees incarcerated on charges of violence and rioting stemming from Morsi’s ouster.

Since Morsi was removed from power by military mandate in July, Friday has become a habitual day of protests, often organized in support of the ousted Islamist leader. The protests commonly devolve into deadly violence.