Row over deferral of rally in Cairo persists

SUFI MYSTICS, secularists and Coptic Christians yesterday continued to wrangle over whether to go ahead or defer until next Friday the “million man” demonstration scheduled for today in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

The aim of the gathering is to reaffirm the unity of the Egyptian people and counter attempts by ultra-orthodox Salafis to impose their puritan version of Islamic law and practice on the country.

More than two dozen of the 56 original sponsors have called for postponement while the Sufi Tahrir (Liberation) party and some secular allies prefer to go ahead as planned.

Parties favouring deferral hold that the rally should take place after Prime Minister Essam al-Sharaf issues an expected statement on the civil (secular) nature of the Egyptian state.

The rally would then reaffirm his declaration and counter the Salafi call for Egypt to become an Islamic state governed by Muslim canon law, Sharia.

Many Egyptians were shocked when the July 29th rally in Tahrir Square was hijacked by Salafis in spite of an agreement with secular parties that religious symbols and slogans would not be introduced.

Sufis and Copts are particularly sensitive to assertive Salafi behaviour because Sufi congregations and pilgrimage sites and Coptic churches are frequently attacked by Salafi extremists adhering to Saudi Wahhabi interpretations.

The gathering, dubbed “For the Love of Egypt”, is due to begin at sunset when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

Participants will bring food and drink and join in a vast communal iftar or Ramadan breakfast. The event is set to include the evening and night Muslim prayers, a Coptic service, and light entertainment. Mr Sharaf has been consulted by organisers, given his approval, and been invited to attend.

Fearing the event will deepen the rift between Sufis and Salafis, the Sufi Supreme Council and the Muslim Brotherhood, which is allied to the Salafis, have called for cancellation.

Meanwhile, Mr Sharaf has said the emergency law imposed in 1981 following the assassination of then president Anwar Sadat could be lifted soon, meeting a major demand of the democracy movement. His cabinet has also adopted the text of an amendment to the criminal code making discrimination due to sect, ethnicity, language, origin or sex punishable by three months in prison and a fine.

This should appease Sufis, Copts and women, who experience routine discrimination.