CAIRO: Two more student leaders of the Democratic Front Party were arrested by police officials Saturday while participating in a campaign at Alexandria University against university security affiliated with the interior ministry.
The two students, Mohamed Abdel Karim and Ahmed Gomaa, have appeared before the Alexandria Prosecutor, according to party chair Margaret Azir.
“We still don’t know what’s going on, but we appointed a lawyer to defend them, said Azir, adding that 50 of their colleagues had assembled in front of the Bab Sharq police station, where the students are being held, to show their support.
The students’ Red Card campaign seeks to replace university security with private security on the grounds that they interfere with student freedoms.
The campaign’s motto is “A red card to university security on campus grounds.
The Red Card protests coincided with student protests in Cairo University and Ain Shams University demanding the expulsion of university security to mark the annual Student Day.
The day refers to the Feb. 21 upraising in 1946 of thousands of Egyptian students demonstrating against the British occupation.
The Alexandria arrests follow on the heels of the apprehension of two party members at Sharqeya University last week while distributing a survey on campus. The two students, Aly Ahmed and Karim Mostafa, were released after a few hours of questioning by the university administration and state security.
The surveys were being distributed as part of the Momken (It is Possible) campaign, an affiliate of Red Card.
The survey asked students to choose among four issues which the campaign should focus on to improve university life across Egypt.
The issues are graduate studies and scientific research, the provision of skills workshops and training, the creation of a summer session for students who need to repeat classes, and the replacement of university security affiliated with the interior ministry with private security.
Though the Momken campaign is not restricted to members of the Democratic Front Party, the party’s website now features a report on the launch of the Momken youth movement from its ranks.
Azir had told Daily News Egypt last week that the party’s youth were the primary leaders of the Momken campaign, but that the party’s involvement had been indirect.
“People don’t trust parties anymore, she said.
