Protest in S Africa ahead of Egypt revolution anniversary

Scores of Egyptians living in South Africa protested Sunday outside their embassy in the capital Pretoria, accusing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government of human rights violations, a day ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising. 

“Down Sisi down. Viva Morsi viva,” chanted the some 150 protesters dressed in yellow T-shirts bearing the Rabaa sign, which shows opposition to al-Sisi and support for ousted former President Mohammed Morsi. 

The January 25, 2011 revolution, the fifth anniversary of which will be commemorated Monday, led to the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who had ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly 30 years. 

In June 2012, Morsi was voted in as the country’s first democratically elected president, but was later over thrown July 2013 by then army chief al-Sisi, who himself was elected president in 2014.

“We are here to show solidarity with our fellow Egyptians back home and condemn the killings of innocent protesters by Egyptian security forces under al-Sisi,” protest organizer Samih Jad told Anadolu Agency. 

He accused President al-Sisi’s government of cracking down on members of opposition as well as supporters of Morsi.

“The Egyptian revolution is not yet over. No matter how many years it takes, we shall continue protesting until we free all those arrested and our elected president Mohammed Morsi is returned to office,” he said.

At least 1,150 Morsi supporters were killed by security forces in Cairo on August 2013. Several supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as senior party members including Morsi are currently serving lengthy jail terms. 

“I can never return to my country Egypt because I will be arrested for being critical of Sisi’s regime. I will only return when Sisi leaves office,’’ an Egyptian asylum seeker told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity at the protest. 

Hundreds of Egyptian nationals live in South Africa where they eke out a living in different sectors of the country’s economy. 

Leader of the Egyptian community in South Africa, Sultan Yusuf said they don’t consider al-Sisi as their president. 

“We shall continue to protest until al-Sisi’s coup ends,” Yusuf told Anadolu Agency. 

A few Egyptian embassy officials were seen piping through glass windows of their offices to watch protesters who waved flags and banners outside the premises. 

Protest organizers did not give the diplomats any memorandum detailing their demands. 

“There is no need of giving these people any memorandum because Sisi will not change,” Sami Jad told Anadolu Agency.