6 April movement calls for mass strike on 11 June

Egypt’s democratic youth movement, known as 6 April, has called for a mass strike on 11 June to protest the lack of freedom, deteriorating economic situation and escalating poverty in the country, which it blames on the policies of the ruling government.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the movement stated that the strike involved not going to work and boycotting state institutions for one day under the slogan “And now what?”

The movement, which was founded on 6 April, 2008 and is considered one of the most prominent youth movements that opposed former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, also added in the statement that the goal of this strike was for the government to realise that “the people are the source of all authority”.

The movement’s activities have been banned by the ruling authorities and its founders Ahmed Maher and, Mohammed Adel, along with many other members, have been imprisoned. Nevertheless, last month the movement succeeded in organising a conference in the Cairene suburb of 6 October City marking the eighth anniversary of its founding; despite the fact that the Egyptian government prohibited them from holding the conference in Cairo.

The movement openly expressed its support for President Mohamed Morsi in the 2013 presidential elections, but soon after turned against him as a result of his policies. The movement participated in the 30 June protests that preceded General Al-Sisi’s coup against President Morsi in 2013.