Egyptians demand SCAF trial for 2011 Maspero massacre
Egyptians demand SCAF trial for 2011 Maspero massacre (Photo: Al Ahram)
"Mina Daniel was murdered, and the field marshal is responsible,” 1000s of protesters chanted during Tuesday's march marking the anniversary of the Maspero massacre, which saw 26 demonstrators killed during clashes with the military police near Cairo's state media headquarters.
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi was head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) which ruled Egypt from after the revolution until the inauguration of President Morsi in June 2012.
Mina Daniel, an iconic Coptic and leftist activist, was among the 26 people who died near the Maspero radio and television building on 9 October 2011. The demonstrators, mostly Coptic Christians, had been peacefully protesting the burning of a church in Upper Egypt and calling for equal rights for all Egyptians.
Around 10,000 took part in Tuesday's march which took the same route as the one that ended in tragedy last year.
"The same place, the same people, the same day, we are here to commemorate the death of the Maspero martyrs,” said Suzan Naguib, a government employee.
"Why hasn't there been justice for the martyrs until now? How come the officers aren’t on trial?” Naguib asked. "[The SCAF] were ruling the country, now they’re not; why haven’t they been held accountable [for what happened at Maspero]?” she enquired.
Many Egyptians hold the SCAF responsible for the killings. The vast majority of dead protesters were either run over by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) or shot. Military officials have denied involvement in the killings, but widely circulated video footage and pictures show otherwise.
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