Dozens of Muslims and Copts protested outside the Attorney General’s office yesterday, demanding the release of those arrested at the ‘Umrāniyyah riots. They were also demanding the removal of Giza governor Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Azīz and and calling for a unified law for places of worship.

The protestors used slogans urging President Husnī Mubārak to personally interfere. Egyptian Union for Human Rights leader Najīb Jabrā’īl said that he sent a note to the Attorney General requesting the release of the suspects for the sake of their educational future and to calm their families before the Christmas celebrations. Jabrā’īl also accused the police of using unnecessary violence against the protestors and said that the rioters were only reacting to police violence.

Several members of Copts for Egypt visited a number of the detained suspects’ families. General Coordinator Hānī ‘Azīz al-Juzayrī described the visit as an encouragement for more civil society organizations to interact with and defend the suspects.