Political activists are calling for a demonstration in front of the Supreme Council of Culture Headquarters in Cairo, honouring the martyrs of Beni Suef, today, Monday 5 September. 

It is the sixth memorial anniversary of those who died in a fire in Beni Suef’s governorate theatre on 5 September 2005.

The message calling for a demonstration was spread through social networks including Twitter and Facebook in the early hours of Monday morning. 

The 2005 fire hit the Beni Suef theatre during a performance, killing over 32 people. It is reported that the cause of the fire was a candle on the stage, knocked over by an actor, causing the curtains to set alight. It quickly spread across the paper-covered stage. Minutes afterwards it had engulfed the entire building, causing its destruction. 

The demonstration is scheduled to take place at 6.00pm.