Egypt

Funerals for Port Said dead held across Egypt

Funerals were held on Thursday across Egypt for victims of the clashes that broke out in Port Said Stadium following a game between the Ahly and Masry teams last night. Over 70 people died and over 300 were injured in the violence.

In Sharqiya, northeast of Cairo, thousands took part in the funerals of Islam Saif Elwan, 20, who worked in an industrial company in the 10th of Ramadan City, and Mahmoud Suleiman Hassan, 19, a student in the faculty of Engineering at a university in Zagazig.

The two victims were buried in a cemetery in Kafr Abu Hamad city. Mourners chanted, “We sacrifice our blood and our soul for the martyrs” and “The martyr is loved by God.”

In Mansura, Daqahlia governorate, thousands took part in the burial of Mahmoud Ahmed Khatir, 21, whose coffin was shrouded in an Egyptian flag. The service was held in Nasr mosque.

Young people tried to block the road outside the mosque in preparation of the casket being carried out. The funeral turned into a demonstration amid chants of, “There is no God but God, and the martyr is loved by God” and “Be comfortable martyr, for we continue the struggle.”

In Mahalla, a large number Mahalla and Ahly Ultras congregated inside the public hospital Thursday afternoon to take part in the funeral of Al-Arabi Kamel Mohamed, 20, a member of the Ultras Ahlawy.

In Alexandria, hundreds participated in the funeral of Mahmoud Abdel Rahim al-Ghandour, founder of Ultras Ahlawy in Alexandria. Participants, who included members of the April 6 Youth movement, the Kefaya movement, supporters of Alexandria’s Ittihad sporting club and Ghandour’s colleagues, demanded retribution.

Hundreds of the supporters of Alexandria’s Ittihad sporting club, Ahly and Zamalek teams organized a protest that blocked the Corniche in protest of the Port Said clashes.

The protestors raised the flags of the Ultras of Zamalek and Ahly, chanting slogans including, “There is no God but God and the martyr is loved by God” and “Either we die like them, or we get their rights.” The blockade resulted in verbal clashes with drivers.

The protestors demanded that the military council be held to account for the massacre and urged a vote of no confidence against the government of Kamal al-Ganzouri.

They announced plans to hold a march carrying coffins to the headquarters of the northern military zone in Sidi Gaber demanding that the military council hand over power to civilians immediately.

Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm.

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