On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, hundreds of Egyptians gathered in Safenex Square in Cairo to commemorate the 521st anniversary of the fall of Granada. The protest was organized by a group calling itself the Free Movement (Harakat Ahrar). The Spanish-language website webislam.com reported that the protestors organized a human chain around the square and held signs that said: "We have not forgotten Al-Andalus" and "We will definitely return."
Following are excerpts from a video clip of a demonstration in Egypt held to mark the fall of the Muslim rule in Andalusia, posted on the Internet on January 2, 2013.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV.
Footage of demonstrators holding signs in Arabic and Spanish:
Sign: "We have not forgotten Andalusia. We will definitely return."
Sign: "The conquest of countries will not be erased by oblivion."
Demonstrator: "As we speak, in Islamic Andalusia, in Spain, they are marching to celebrate the fall of the Islamic state of Andalusia, or Spain. While they are celebrating, we here are upset, because the Muslims used to rule in those European countries.
"Over there, they are celebrating the fact that they killed Muslims and drove out the Muslims rulers, who ruled them with justice."
[...]
Demonstrator: "This is a good opportunity to remind people of the history of their Islamic nation, because a nation that forgets its history is, I’m sad to say, doomed to failure."
Demonstrator: "My name is Muhammad Gamal."
Reporter: "Muhammad, why are you demonstrating?"
Demonstrator: "At this very moment, there are celebrations in Spain, to mark the expulsion of the Muslims from Andalusia. We are here to respond to them, and say that Allah willing, we will return to Andalusia. We are here to remind people of this day of commemoration."
[...]
Demonstrator: "We are trying to remind people of the history of Andalusia. It was toppled over 500 years ago by the Spaniards, who are occupying it to this day. We want to remind people that no matter how long the Spanish occupation of Andalusia continues, the day will come, Allah willing, when we liberate it and Islam will return."
[...]
