Rabaa El-Adawiya Square named after Egypt’s slain Top Prosecutor

Egypt’s cabinet approved changing the name of Rabaa El-Adawiya Square, the most famous venue for Islamist protests and sit-ins in Cairo over the past few years, to Hisham Barakat Square — the late prosecutor general who was assassinated late in June.

Rumors emerged immediately after the assassination of Barakat, who was killed in a car bomb attack, that Rabaa El-Adawiya would be named after Egypt’s slain top prosecutor. It was only confirmed over two weeks later.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack that killed Barakat but many believe Islamist militants, whose operations intensified in Egypt over the past two years following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, were behind it.

Rabaa El-Adawiya is where Thousands staged a sit in to support Morsi in the wake of the nationwide protests against his rule. The sit-in remained for over a month calling for his reinstatement following his ouster on 3 July 2013.

The sit-in was forcibly dispersed by security personnel on 14 August, an event that saw hundreds killed mostly from the Islamist camp.

Source: Ahram Online