BBC: Thousands gather in Tahrir square demanding a sharia state.

Man, that’s nearly as many people as they can get for a march demanding an Islamic state in London.

From the BBC


Egypt uprising: Islamists lead Tahrir Square rally

The protest is one of the largest since the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak
Continue reading the main story
Egypt’s Revolution
In pictures: Fresh rallies
Women sidelined
Tens of thousands of people have packed Cairo’s Tahrir Square, after the first call by Islamist leaders for nationwide demonstrations since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February.

Many protesters – dominated by Muslim Brotherhood supporters – are calling for an Islamic state and Sharia law.

Correspondents say the rallies will be a worrying development for secularists.

The Brotherhood is the most organised political force in Egypt, although it was not prominent in the revolution.

Tensions have been running high between Egypt’s Islamist and secular groups, who are at odds over the transition to democracy in the Arab world’s most populated country.

Casualties
Later there were a number of casualties when violence broke out in a separate incident in Sinai.

“We have two bodies of civilians in the morgue now and 12 police conscripts being treated for injuries in hospital,” Hisham Shiha, Egypt’s deputy health minister, told state television.

Around 100 armed men drove around the city of El-Arish, shouting Islamic slogans, and firing into the air, before attacking a police station.

Terrified residents fled into their homes. One of those killed was a 13-year-old boy, according to reports in the local media.

Turning point?
Among the earlier protests in Tahrir Square, liberal groups called for guarantees of a constitution that will protect religious freedom and personal rights, whereas Islamists demanded speedy elections and a recognition of Islam – in one form or another – in the new Egyptian state.

Now the Islamists want their voice to be heard and are showing their muscle for the first time since Mr Mubarak stepped down on 11 February, says the BBC’s Jon Leyne in Cairo.

Although the Muslim Brotherhood can turn out huge crowds by rallying its supporters at mosques, it does not necessarily represent the majority of Egyptians and is predicted to win around 20% of the vote in an election, our correspondent says.

There was little sign of any secular groups at Friday’s rally, he says, adding that it will be interesting to see how they re-group after today’s events.

Since early July, the mainly secular protesters had camped out in Tahrir Square – the epicentre of protests that toppled Mr Mubarak – to denounce the ruling military council over the slow pace of reform.

Islamist groups had for the most part stayed away from the sit-in. Last week, they held their own demonstration and accused the Tahrir protesters of going against the country’s “Islamic identity”, the AFP news agency reports.

But with Islamists and the more conservative Salafist groups now filling Tahrir Square, it could mark a turning point in Egypt’s post-revolution period, our correspondent says.

Later on Friday, witnesses in el-Arish reported men in trucks and on motorbikes firing their assault rifles into the air and forcing frightened residents into their homes.

The men are reported to have been confronted by policemen and soldiers.

“We have two bodies of civilians in the morgue now and 12 police conscripts being treated for injuries in hospital,” Hisham Shiha, Egypt’s deputy health minister, told state television.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

4 Replies to “BBC: Thousands gather in Tahrir square demanding a sharia state.”

  1. Various secular representitives keep saying to the western press how the islamists are a small group and nobody supports them. But we see tens of thousands of islamist supporters and the heros who started the rebellion aren’t even allowed on stage.

    It’s well past time the secularists got themselves bullet proof vests, non muslim bodyguards and some safe houses prepared. The islamists have been attacking christians before and after the rebellion and they won’t hesitate to do the same to secular librals if they stand in the way of an islamist take over.

  2. Welcome to the new Caliphate, the questions left to be answered are, 1) where will the capital be and 2) who will be the Caliph?

    Militant Islam is on the march and following the orders in the Koran, when your enemies are strong fake friendship and wait until they are weak. The west is weak and divided with emerging civil wars and the Moslems are moving to take advantage of them to reconquer areas they were kicked out of.

  3. Was there any question that this would happen?

    The liberals join hands with the Muslim fanatics to topple the government. They must have forgotten that any Muslim can become a fanatic in a moment. It is like a switch which flips inside their heads. Now the handful of fanatics has become an ocean. This ocean will not go away without a fight, the Koran commands it.

    If they were intelligent, they would flee the county immediately. I guarantee, at this moment, someone is planning to kidnap them and cut their throats when the time is right.

    I wonder if western liberals will learn from this? Who am I kidding.

  4. Edwin they will never learn this since the vast majority of them are incapable of critical thought, a cold cup of coffee and an original thought would kill them.