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Egyptian Opposition Expects Violent Clashes on June 30

The feeling on Cairo’s streets is that the one-year anniversary of President Mohammed Morsi’s rule will result in violent confrontations.

Riot police attempt to separate anti-Mursi protesters made up of intellectuals and artists and supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi in front of the Ministry of Culture during a demonstration against what they claimed are increasing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood over the Ministry of Culture and Minister of Culture Alaa Abdel Aziz, in Cairo June 11, 2013. Mursi increased the influence of his Muslim Brotherhood over government in a cabinet reshuffle in May that replaced two ministers involved i
Riot police attempt to separate protesters made up of intellectuals and artists from supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in front of the Ministry of Culture during a demonstration in Cairo, June 11, 2013. — REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

CAIRO — Adel al-Hassan, an active member of Tamarrod, or the Rebellion Initiative — the independent movement that collected millions of signatures demanding the country’s first freely elected president to step down — was shot on Sunday, June 9. He suffered a brain hemorrhage that left him partially paralyzed.

“He is well known for his political activism and for being Tamarrod’s representative; he was targeted while calling people to stand in the face of those oppressing them,” said Mohamed Hussien, a friend of the victim who talked to Al-Monitor at the eastern Cairo public hospital where Hassan is kept under medical surveillance. Hussien stood beside Hassan when three birdshot bullets were fired at them; bullet fragments injured his right arm.

Ahmed al-Hassan, the victim’s older brother, and Ahmed Abu Ghazala, a younger member of Tamarrod who works regularly with Hassan, both confirmed that this is not the first time they were attacked by members of President Mohammed Morsi’s home organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, or its Islamist affiliates.

“Adel was definitely targeted; every eyewitness confirmed that it was not a random shooting incident. But since the attacker remains unknown, we cannot accuse anyone,” Abu Ghazala told Al-Monitor.

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