Members of Egyptian-Canadian community add their voices of protest

Demonstrators assemble at Yonge-Dundas Square in support of Egyptian protests against the Hosni Mubarak regime.

Egyptian-Canadian Mouhab Saber has grievances with his native country.

“We want a new president because the present one is stealing money from our country,” he said. “We’re trying to achieve freedom.”

Saber was one of a number of Torontonians of Egyptian background who assembled and demonstrated Saturday in support of democracy and freedom in Egypt.

“One. Two. Three. Egypt will be free!” he and others chanted during a peaceful rally at Yonge-Dundas Square.

The local demonstration came as a response to the protests in Egypt that began on Jan 25. In Cairo, Alexandria and other Egyptian cities thousands have called for the end of Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year reign as president.

Saber proudly held an Egyptian flag as he joined the crowd of over 200 protestors, many of whom carried signs that read, “Defend Egypt’s Democracy Movement. Mubarak Out Now!”

Egyptian-Canadians and immigrants from Egypt weren’t the only ones present during the three-hour assembly. Gaza-born Moe Abudaia acknowledged the similarities of his life in Palestine to the current tribulations of the Egyptian people.

“All the Arabs of the Middle East can relate,” Abudaia said. “We live under the same style of regime, same oppression and I hope it changes for Egypt and any other country that has to live in oppression.”