Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Several Egyptians in the Kingdom are supporting army chief  Abdul Fattah El-Sisi's call for demonstrations showing support for the military in its fight against terrorism and violence.



Back home, thousands of Egyptians are planning to have their Iftar Friday at Tahrir Square in Cairo and other areas in cities across the country to show their support for the army.



Several movements and social activists, including the grassroots movement Tamarod, have urged Egyptians to demonstrate and support the army in its war against terrorism and violence.



Sherihan Abdullah, an Egyptian expatriate in Jeddah, supports the demonstrations. “One of the leaders of Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Al-Beltagi, said that if (ousted president Mohamad) Morsi came back to power, terror attacks will stop in Sinai peninsula. It means that they are behind terrorism in Egypt,” she said.



“They claimed many times that there will be a civil war, Egyptians are not safe since Morsi was ousted because the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi supporters are terrorizing innocent people,” she said.



“Since the army ousted Morsi, Islamist leaders have called for Jihad against our great army. Isn’t it a call for civil war? Is there logic in a person going to Jihad against his armed forces who sacrifice their lives to protect us?” asked Sheihan.  



Ahmed Gomaa, an Egyptian expatriate, who also supports the call of El-Sisi, said that Egyptian have a huge trust in their armed forces.



“Unfortunately, Morsi supporters are not peaceful, they are making a lot of violence on Egypt's streets,” said Ahmed.



“They are blocking roads, also they use woman and children as human shields. It's a kind of terrorism,” he said.



Aliaa Yehia, an Egyptian expatriate in Riyadh, said that she is afraid that there will be victims from both sides. "But all will be Egyptians.



“I believe that as long as the army and the police promise to protect the demonstrations, they will, and I support the army in ending terrorism and violence because I feel that they are serious in that. We want to step forward and develop our country and that will happen only when the violence ends,” she said.



Karim Wahba, another Egyptian in Riyadh, is not a Morsi supporter but he supports legitimacy.



“El-Sisi is calling for civil war. If he wants us to be ready to sacrifice our lives for legitimacy, we will do whatever the cost,” he said.



“Morsi supporters are peaceful, but the current government wants to involve them in troubles and wants to show them as terrorists,” said Karim.