Friday Prayers in Cairo, Egypt
Muslims stand in lines at Friday’s prayers at Al-Azhar Mosque. Since the clashes of 2013, the Egyptian government has put together a plan they say prevents hate speech in mosques. Each week, the Al-Azhar mosque presents Egyptian clerics with a topic or t
Mohamed Omar 24, a student and carpenter, is seen after Friday’s prayers in Cairo on May 27, 2016. He says “I come here to Al-Azhar for prayers. At Al-Azhar Mosque the speeches and prayers focus more on morals and how to be a good person, which still no
The Friday market in east Cairo is famous for very cheap prices and a large variety of goods sold, like clothes, furniture, pets, and used electronics. 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)
Khaled El-Antably and with his sons Ahmed and Mahmoud are buying new shirts for the hot summer. Khaled says “Prices here is very low compared to the big malls. The quality is not the best, but what can we do? Nothing lasts.” 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo
Undertaker Fathy Salama says “Friday is the best day for my business during the week. Mourners come to visit their relatives and they leave me some small tips, which makes up for low pay during the rest of the week.” 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo: Hamada El
At Sayeda Aisha tombs, also known as the City of the Dead, mourners visit recently dead relatives’ tombs on Fridays. 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)
In Maadi, a wealthy Cairo suburb, bicyclists organize a weekly Friday ride, hoping the growing popularity of the support may help to reduce Cairo’s notorious traffic and pollution. 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)
The main reason I do it, I think it’s true for the majority of us, is that we want to fight pollution and traffic. Who knows? Maybe in few years you see no cars on the streets. We will all be cycling.” 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA
Ahmed Hefny, 26, is an engineer who hangs out in the suburbs during the weekends but lives in a generally poor urban area near the Pyramids. He says “I’m not from Maadi, I’m from South Giza, but we don’t have sports clubs and I can’t afford going to one
In the Cairo suburbs, young people enjoy a weekly exercise event on Fridays that includes running, calisthenics, aerobics and hip-hop dance. 27 May 2016, Cairo. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)
Enjoying traditional leisure activities, Egyptians play backgammon and smokes Shisha on Friday, 3 June 2016. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)
Mostafa is the ailing grandfather of five children who visit him every Friday. When he is with the children he says, "I feel like a kid. I feel powerful. I can run like my grandsons.” 3 June 2016. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)
Mostafa says he fears eviction from his family home of generations and says, “I love my grand sons even more than my sons.” 3 June 2016. (Photo: Hamada Elrasam for VOA)