Egypt Cinema Syndicate call for civil disobedience

The Egyptian Cinema Syndicate has announced its intention to take part in a planned campaign of civil disobedience scheduled to begin on 11 February in line with calls by several political parties and movements for the immediate handover of power from Egypt's ruling military council to a civilian authority. The syndicate has said it would remain on strike until the desired transfer of power; until figures associated with the ousted Mubarak regime are prosecuted for past crimes; and until those responsible for last week's football violence in Port Said are held accountable. Along with revolutionary parties and movements, the planned campaign – timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Mubarak’s ouster – has also been endorsed by several student unions and labour groups. Cinema Syndicate members played an active role in last year's revolution. Shortly after Mubarak's ouster, they staged a lengthy strike to demand the dismissal of syndicate head Mosaad Fouda, who nevertheless maintained his position after winning syndicate elections last June.