Fifteen activists staged a protest Monday evening in solidarity with an Egyptian man who set himself on fire earlier in the day.
The hastily prepared protest for the 49-year-old Abdu Gaafar–owner of a small restaurant, who immolated himself in protest outside parliament–took place later than scheduled at the Supreme Judicial Complex in downtown Cairo.
Protesters chanted, "People are setting themselves on fire, consider this a warning Mubarak."
Echoing the Tunisian president's flight into exile, chants included, "Oh Mubarak, oh Mubarak, your airplane is awaiting you," and "Saudi Arabia awaits you."
"Today is only a symbolic protest for the man who set himself on fire. We are preparing for nationwide protests on 25 January against poverty, corruption, Emergency Law, and torture, from which we all suffer," a youth protester announced.
Cairene protesters announced their intention to demonstrate outside the Interior Ministry on 25 January–which is “Egyptian Police Day.”
Several hundred riot police forces and officers were deployed while some 30 journalists, photographers and camera crews were present outside the site of the protest.
Media personnel expressed disappointment at the delay, weak turn-out, and prospects for social reform through small street protests.
Abdu Gaafar is currently hospitalized. He is not expected to die from his burns and injuries.
Five other acts of self-immolation have taken place beyond Tunisia–in Algeria and Mauritania–since Mohammed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in the Tunisian district of Sidi Bouzid on 17 December set off nationwide protests leading to overthrow of Tunisia’s government.
