FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEHany Saqr, Saqrhany@yahoo Shaker Elsayed, shaikhshaker@aol Akram Elzend, alzend@gmail EGYPTIAN ARMY OPENS FIRE ON PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS AT LEAST 37 KNOWN DEAD, HUNDREDS WOUNDED WASHINGTON DC – Egyptian military and police forces have opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in front of the Republican Guard Headquarters in Nasser City, Cairo. At least 34 people are dead, including one woman and several children, and up to 500 wounded. The unprovoked attack took place during dawn prayers where those praying had their backs turned to the armed forces according to eyewitness accounts at the scene. Thousands of pro democracy protesters had gathered peacefully to rally against the military coup that took place three days earlier. Egyptian-Americans for Democracy and Human Rights (EADHR) condemns this blatant violence against peaceful protesters calling for democracy in Egypt. EADHR calls upon President Obama to denounce the unprovoked attack and take concrete steps to prevent further violence by the US supported Egyptian army. EADHR Spokesman Akram Elzend said “The US gives the Egyptian military over 1.5 billion dollars in aid and therefore is in a position to rein in the army.” Egypt is at an impasse after the military overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup on July 5, 2013. A leading member of EADHR, Shaker Elsayed, asserted “This is beyond politics. Washington can debate whether a coup took place but can’t ignore the loss of life which is destabilizing Egypt and directly undermining US calls for democracy in the region.” - END -
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 14:01:15 +0000