New Delhi (1st August, 2013) : Students Islamic organisation of India and Egypt Solidarity Forum staged a huge protest today at Egyptian embassy against military coup and massacres carried by military junta in Egypt. Protesters staged a sit in at Egyptian Embassy in New Delhi despite scuffles with Delhi police and expressed their anger against the military rule. (Click here for the Protest Photos)

Former CAC member of SIO and Convener of Forum, Omair Anas expressed his concerns on India’s silence over military coup and consequent military-sponsored violence in Egypt. He said that the military coup in Egypt is a huge blow for entire Arab region where American hegemony is a major decisive factor. He reiterated that only people’s choice through democratic institutions can correct historical mistakes of Gamal Abdal Nasser, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak. He said that a president and parliament elected through ballot can only be removed by ballots.

Sharique Ansar, National Secretary of SIO said that Indian government had hosted President Mohammad Morsi few months ago but now India has completely disowned him without showing any concerns for his fundamental rights as an Egyptian citizen if not as president of Egypt. He said that military’s coup against the legitimate democratic president Muhammad Morsi is factually the murder of democracy, and to lead this coup to a conclusion the Egyptian army is now bleeding humanity.

Sr. SQR Ilyas, General Secretary of Welfare Party of India said that Indian government’s silence is against India’s long term interests in the region. He explained how Israeli and Americans are secretly playing a game behind the curtains.

Representatives of Forum for Students’ Democracy AISF, APCR, CFI, also spoke and expressed their solidarity with anti-coup protesters in Egypt. Activists said that they would continue supporting anti-coup protests in India also because of historical brotherhood between Indians and Egyptians.

Large number of students of Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University were a part of the protest.

As per a press release, the joint forum demanded the following from the Military General Abdal Fattah Sisi and the concerned leadership:

1. To cancel military declaration of suspending constitution and president and reinstate Dr. Mohammad Morsi as president to find a broad based solution within legitimate process mandated by clear electoral suport.

2. To cancel all emergency powers to military or the police to deal with ongoing political crisis. To allow peaceful struggle for all political groups.

3. To lift ban from all media organizations shut down after military declaration to ensure freedom of expression.

4. To release all detained leaders of all the political parties and stop arbitrary arrest and torture campaign against leaders and activists of Muslim Brotherhood and Freedom and Justice Party.

5. To support broad based national reconciliation dialogue among all the political players of Egypt to find a political and constitutional solution in the light of the mandate given by Egyptian people in the last presidential election.

6. The forum also appeals all Egyptians, liberals, Islamists and others to refrain from violence against each other and to protect Egypt from military dictatorship.

7. The forum appeals international community, including the Arab League, The United Nations and other countries to support civilian government elected by the people of Egypt and not to deal secretly with the military as they have done in the past.

8. The forum expects that Indian government take an independent position on the crisis which brings back legitimacy of their mandate given to the elected President. We demand from Indian government not to recognize this military coup and convey the military leadership that it will deal only with elected leadership of Egypt.