Protestors demand release of all political prisoners front of Cairo's High Court, Friday, 23 March 2012. (Photo: Sarah Mourad)
Hundreds of protesters descended on Cairo's High Court on Friday to demand the release of all political prisoners held since the January 25 Revolution.
The protesters chanted against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Interior Ministry and carried banners calling for the release of detainees, including well-known activists Ahmed Doma and George Ramzi.
The protest was organised by the "Second Revolution of Rage" Facebook group. No to Military Trials and the Ultras White Knights of Zamalek football club were among a number of groups in attendance.
Khadiga El-Hennawy, a well-known figure in Tahrir Square who was once beaten by soldiers, said she was attending the demo to support the protesters. "I've always done it. I will continue to support my kids (the protesters) as long as they have the strength and the will to carry on."
Amany Salah, a chemist, explained that she did not know any of the detainees but came to support them, especially the 'April 8' and 'May 27' military officers who were imprisoned by the ruling SCAF for siding with the revolutionaries. She said the clampdown on protesters and other "failures" were destroying the January 25 Revolution "and we shouldn't allow this to happen."
Mohamed Kamel of Ultras Ahlawy – the hardcore supporters of Cairo's Ahly football club – said he attended the protest to demand the freedom of all detainees, and to argue that Article 28 of last year's constitutional declaration, which states that election results cannot be appealed, "is undemocratic and unfair and must be changed."
The majority of protesters specified that today's demonstration would not become a sit-in.
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