Egypt, secular parties take to the streets to correct path of the Jasmine revolution
Thousands of young people join the protest, but not the Islamic parties. Among the demands the end of martial law and the expulsion of the former regime members from institutions. Egypt now divided between secular and democratic Islamic parties. There is a growing fear among Christians.
Cairo (AsiaNews) - Thousands of young Egyptians - less than what was announced in recent days – have demonstrated in Tahrir Square to urge the army to keep its promises after the fall of Mubarak. Guided by the slogan "Correct the path of the revolution", the protesters demanded the institutions be purged of former regime members, justice reforms and an end to the use of military courts for the trials of protesters arrested in January.

Organized by the liberal parties, including the 6 April Movement, the National Democratic Front Party and the ADL, the protest was boycotted by the Islamic parties, which have tried to minimize the demands of the young liberals, judging them devoid of content.

Fr. Rafik Greek, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, explains that for some time now the Muslim parties have tended to obstruct the demonstrations against the army. "The Muslim Brotherhood - he says - want to win the November election and seek the support of the military." For the priest Egypt is now split in two. On the one hand there are the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist Islamist traditionalists who want to transform the country into an Islamic republic based on sharia. On the other, democratic parties of secularists who strive for a secular government that respects human rights and religious minorities. They are pursuing the true values of the Revolution, with the extremists riding on the popular wave.

Despite the ongoing trial of Hosni Mubarak which catalyzed much of the Egyptian and world public opinion, showing the interface of the new Egypt, according to AsiaNews sources little or nothing has changed in the almost eight months since the fall of the Rais. "The people - they explain - are afraid and do not know what will happen in the future. There is no security on the streets. It's hard to make ends meet because of the severe economic crisis aggravated by social instability. " The sources point out that the only actor who holds this situation in check is the army. "The military is trying to mediate between the various political factions born after the revolution and the Islamic movements, but in reality that have no impact."

The social crisis is felt particularly in the countryside and in the districts of Upper Egypt, far from the capital, where extremists operate undisturbed. "The Salafists want to impose all Islamic ways – say the sources - such as wudu, the ritual of purification of the body that every Muslim must perform before prayer. Unfortunately in this situation the only victims are Christians and non-Islamic minorities. "

According to unconfirmed reports, in the village of Elmarinab (province of Aswan), a few days ago a group of Muslims sequestered the entire local Coptic community, to force them to demolish the dome of the church of St. George built without the permission of the authorities. (Sc)