Dozens gathered in Tahrir Square Friday morning to participate in a protest they have called the “Friday of the Martyrs' Dreams.” More than 75 political parties, movements and coalitions are now expected to participate in the demonstrations, after additional groups announced their support Thursday, according to Al-Ahram newspaper. Activists have planned additional protests in other governorates. Demonstration sizes are expected to increase after the completion of Friday prayers. The protests will be a preamble to demonstrations planned for the 25 January revolution's anniversary this coming Wednesday, said all participating groups in a joint statement Thursday night. The statement said the Friday protest would come within the framework of a week political forces have named “The Week of Mourning and Anger,” continued the Al-Ahram report. Groups planning to participate include the Maspero Youth Union, National Association for Change, April 6 Youth Movement, Egyptian Social Democratic Party and Tagammu Party. The Free Front for Peaceful Change and the Youth for Freedom and Justice Movement said in a 11 January joint press statement that demonstrations will begin after Friday prayers, with black-clad mourners marching in all governorates around Egypt. All Cairo marches will head toward Tahrir Square, they added. The Dostor online news service reported Friday morning that activists have distributed approximately 100,000 leaflets to publicize the Friday protests. Activists have planned several marches to Tahrir Square after Friday prayers. Demonstrators will march from the Istiqama mosque in Giza and the Fatah and Khazendar mosques in Shubra. Participants will observe a moment of silence for the souls of the martyrs and recite Quranic verses in their memory.
