CAIRO, Sept 8 (Aswat Masriya) – Security sources refused to grant the cultural festival al-Fan Midan a permit to hold their latest event last Saturday for "security concerns", a security source said.

The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Aswat Masriya security sources are worried "infiltrators" would intervene in the cultural festival, held on the first Saturday of every month. 

Gatherings for any number of people cannot be tolerated during the current circumstances, the source said. He added that any assembly or event needs a permit from the ministry of interior and that the ministry will not allow any assemblies which breach the protest law.

The protest law was issued by former interim President Adli Mansour in November to regulate peaceful assembly. The law has long been the epicentre of wide criticism by domestic and international human rights organisations which say it violates international standards for peaceful protests.

According to the law, assembly organisers must notify the concerned security authorities with their plans for assembly at least three working days in advance. The law also grants the ministry of interior the right to cancel, move or postpone assemblies.

Violating the law is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and/or fines between 50 thousand and 200 thousand Egyptian pounds. The law also fines those who hold an assembly without prior notification a fine that could be up to 30 thousand Egyptian pounds.

Fan Midan organisers announced in a press conference on Sunday that they will hold the festival next Saturday regardless of whether they secure the permit. The organisers added that the ministry of interior promised to grant them the permit on Wednesday, calling on the minister of culture to intervene to give them an annual or biannual permit to prevent halting their activities every month.

Security forces refused to grant the festival a permit during the first week of August as well. The festival was held on the second week of the month after negotiations between security authorities and the organisers.

The festival has been held every month at downtown's Abdeen Square since the January 25 uprising in 2011, save for exceptional circumstances. It is a free event which involves artistic performances by alternative artists.

The security source said the event's proximity to the Abdeen Palace, the Abdeen Police Station and the Cairo Governorate's headquarters necessitates taking precautionary measures. He added that the event can be held in other locations.