As Protests of Film Continue,
Hundreds Injured in Cairo Alone

Editor's Note: Since the publication of this article, the Muslim Brotherhood has withdrawn its call for a general protest against the film in question. "[The Muslim Brotherhood] cancels Friday's nationwide protests, announces it will be present only in [Tahrir Square], for symbolic protest against the movie," the group said on its official Twitter feed on Friday, September 14.

About This Article

Summary : As the fallout from the release in the US of a trailer for an anti-Islamic film continues to spread across the region, Al-Masry al-Youm reports on the clashes between riot police and protesters at the US embassy in Cairo. More than 200 people have been hurt and dozens arrested as the demonstrations grow. Publisher: Al-Masry Al-Youm (Egypt) Original Title: “Embassy Invasion” Escalates.. America: Egypt Is No Longer an Ally First Published: September 14, 2012 Posted on: September 14 2012 Translated by: Naria Tanoukhi Categories : Egypt

The wave of popular anger against the American-made film that insults the Prophet Muhammad escalated yesterday [September 13]. For a second day, clashes and hit-and-run operations between demonstrators and security forces continued in the vicinity of the US embassy in the Garden City district of central Cairo, injuring 216 people.

The Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups will today [September 14] hold a million-man demonstration in Tahrir Square and demonstrate in front of mosques under the slogan “Supporting Muhammad.”

The area of confrontations near the Omar Makram Mosque yesterday turned into a battlefield as security forces continued to fire tear-gas canisters to drive away protesters from the embassy perimeters. ​​

Demonstrators set fire to four police cars and smashed three others. Clashes with stones wounded army officers and 18 soldiers. The police arrested 27 people involved in the events and referred them to public prosecution.

Interior Minister Major General Ahmad Gamal al-Din inspected the site of events and urged “restraint” by security forces toward the demonstrators.

Ahmed al-Ansari, deputy head of Cairo's ambulance service, said that 13 wounded people had been transferred to hospitals, adding, “The injuries ranged between concussions, fractures, cuts, bruises and abrasions in different parts of the body, while most cases were attended to at the site of the clashes.”

The demonstrators demanded an apology from US President Barack Obama, the expulsion of the US ambassador in Cairo and the revocation of Egyptian citizenship from all who collaborated in the production of the offensive film.

They chanted: “We sacrifice our souls and blood for the sake of the Messenger of Allah,” “Khaybar Khaybar Jews ... Muhammad’s army shall return,” and “Obama Obama, we are all Osama.”

They also raised black flags that read “There is no god but Allah, Muhammed is the Messenger of God.”

Nader Bakkar, senior member of the Al-Nour Party, announced that a delegation of Salafist leaders will head to the site of clashes between security forces and demonstrators in Omar Makram Street, saying that there are ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis. Bakkar denied the Salafist Al-Nour Party’s involvement in the current events at the US embassy, ​​stressing that the party ended its participation in the peaceful protest at 8 p.m. last Tuesday [September 11].

The clashes between security forces and demonstrators began on the evening of September 12. The Central Security Forces chased demonstrators down side streets after a soldier was abducted and assaulted. The demonstrators released him later, and clashes continued through the night.

In a related development, the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist leaders set a plan of action for holding a million-man demonstration dubbed “Supporting Muhammad today in protest of the film that insults the Prophet.”

The Muslim Brotherhood plan includes organizing sit-ins in front of Al-Istiqama Mosque in Giza, Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque in Al-Muhandisin and mosques in a number of governorates.

At the same time, the Salafists, Gamaa Islamiya and Sufi groups will hold mass rallies from mosques to Tahrir Square. The organizers agreed to unify the content of Friday sermons regarding the status and biography of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his role in changing the course of humanity. Other political forces in the governorates called for holding protests after the Friday prayer to denounce the film.