Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH – Several Egyptian expatriates have voiced concern over the looming violence in the country during protests on June 30 calling for the resignation of President Mohamed Morsi.



The countrywide protest call coincides with the completion of Morsi's one year in power.



Islam Sobhy, an accountant in a private Jeddah firm, said that he doesn’t support Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood. He said that he is against any demonstration that "will put the country on a standstill and instigate violence."



Morsi is an elected president and should be allowed to complete his term, he said.



Sobhy believes that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) should step in to restore peace on the street. The only solution, in his opinion, is for the SCAF to take full power in running the country and keep Morsi as an honorary president until his term expires.



The opposition is critical of Morsi policies on all fronts. It also believes that Morsi’s foreign policy is very weak and has created a lot of tension with many countries in the region.



Maha Diab, a housewife in Riyadh, believes that the demonstrations will overthrow Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. “We didn’t expect that protests against Mubarak will overthrow him. We are now stronger and more aware of our country’s interest. We will stand against those destroying our country, even if it means overthrowing Morsi. He promised reform and we did not see it,” said Diab.



Mohab Mahmoud, a salesman, said that Morsi must step down after June 30 and to save the country from further problems.



“I can describe the period of Morsi as a year of disasters. He didn’t fulfill any of his promises,” he said.



“Morsi did not act strongly on the issue of Ethiopian dam on the Nile River. Morsi’s response was very weak and showed that his team was unprofessional in dealing with the problem,” he added.



Mariam Abdul Moneam, a housewife living in Jeddah, said that police should crack down on protesters. “There is a conspiracy against Morsi from foreign and local intelligence agencies. Everybody is against Morsi because they do not want him to continue with his success,” she said.