Several Egyptian political, religious and social groups ……. MUSTAPHA SULEIMAN – AL ARABIYA Several Egyptian political, religious and social groups that label themselves “moderates” announced their intention to hold a rally next Friday that would call for the establishment of a civil state in Egypt. The “Civil Egypt Friday” will mark the participation of thousands of liberals, leftists, Copts, and Sufis who will gather in Tahrir Square, the center of the Egyptian revolution, to respond to “Islamic Egypt Friday,” that was organized last week by Salafis and members of the Muslim Brotherhood Group. “We want to deliver one message,” said representatives of political powers participating in next Friday’s rally in a press conference. “Egypt is the homeland of all Egyptians who should all enjoy their citizenship rights regardless of race, color or religion.” To ensure that this is how post-revolution Egypt will become, they added, the rally, held under the slogan “Together for the love of Egypt and the revolution,” aims at stressing the participants’ strong objection to mixing religion with politics or using religion to emotionally manipulate the public. According to participating powers, the rally’s main goal is to stress the importance of achieving the goals of the January 25 revolution, which took place to see justice and equality prevail in the Egyptian society. “This will not be reached unless a civil constitution is drafted and priority is given to human rights and the acceptance of the other.” Organizers of the rally unraveled the plan for next Friday, which they said is expected to include the most massive Ramadan “iftar” (fast-breaking meal) banquet in the Middle East. The aim is to enlist the gathering in the Guinness World Records with the biggest pot of fava beans (foul)–Egypt’s most popular staple food–and the biggest dish of “qatayef,” the most famous dessert in the holy month of Ramadan. (Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)
