March 7 was a day of strike for us.
The Egyptian worker, like any worker in the world, has the right to strike,
as long as it is for legitimate reasons.
From that day until now, my colleagues have remained in prison.
They were sentenced to 15 days in prison by the military prosecutor.
First of all, these are Egyptian workers.
They exercised their right to strike.
They have halted and re-started their equipment.
After halting the machinery, they were arrested.
With the excuse that they were protesting against the marine forces.
First of all, my colleagues did not go to the marine command.
It was the marine command that sent their forces to us. We didn't go to them.
This is our workplace, and we're forbidden from entering it for our own protection?
When they tried to stop workers from entering, we realized it was the army.
Then they tried to secure things, and then they were arrested.
Is it acceptable anywhere in the world that a worker who goes on strike in his own workplace,
gets attacked and then accused of being the attacker despite him being the victim?
I don't know. This logic is unheard of anywhere in the world.
Allow me here to say something,
I announce that for the workers of Egypt Mayday is a dead day.
It cannot be a day of celebration.
It has to be a day of silence for workers.
Not a single worker in Egypt is being granted his rights.
I do not know how long we will sustain this system.
I respect the military command that's bearing a burden beyond its capacity.
At the same time, when I am treated like this, then who am I supposed to respect?
What am I going to do about my colleagues who are laguishing in prison?
What can I do for his wife who is sitting silently here at the back?
If the army draws a red line, then the workers of Egypt, too, draw a red line.
Otherwise, what is to become of Egypt?!
What will Egypt become, if the workers of Egypt remain under such humiliation?