Egyptian Salafists call for demonstrations

A number of Salafist groups in Egypt have called for taking to the streets in demonstrations on 28 November in what they are calling the “Islamic Revolution” or “Islamic Youth’s Intifada”, Jordan’s As-Sabeel newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The leader of the Salafist Front in Egypt and spokesperson of the Islamic Youth’s Intifada, Mohamed Jalal, announced that the demonstrators would be taking to the streets across Egypt.

As-Sabeel quoted him as saying that: “They will raise the Qur’an, not weapons,” while also stressing that they are not in any way imitating the model of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

Jalal listed the demands of the Islamic Youth’s Intifada as the following: “Imposing the Islamic identity, refusing foreign domination and removing the military regime.” He also said that the demonstrators would raise pictures of Egyptians in the courts and in prisons.

Egypt’s Awqaf Minister Mohamed Mokhtar has condemned the Salafists’ call for demonstrations.

“It is a filthy call that goes against the country and the religion,” he said. “It is a call for killing and revolution.” He accused those demonstrators planning to raise the Qur’an of desecrating it.