CAIRO: Students of the Higher Institute for Cinema in Cairo, Egypt's only film school, are on strike to demand the immediate release of a third-year student Fady Mostafa Said El-Sawy who was arrested on September 9 as he walked past the Israeli embassy. During the time of his arrest, Fady was walking home from his office in Giza, which happens to be located near the embassy. He was not attending the evening's protest. His family and coworkers were shocked to find out that Fady was arrested for carrying explosives and violating a public institution, among other charges. Workers in Fady's office confirmed that the young man was at work during the events. However, the officer in charge of the investigation refused to see the document and ordered his detention. Students at the Higher Institute for Cinema started their strike on Sunday to show their solidarity with their classmate. “We are going to be there until his release,” Layla Magued, a third-year student at the Institute told Bikyamasr.com. “Tomorrow he will either be released or he will go to trial. If he goes to trial then we plan sit-in in front of our university. A few of us are set to start a hunger strike as well,” she explained. Professors at the Institute have pledged that they will not give lectures during the protest, however they will not join student at the sit-in. “We are trying to create an exhibit of Fady's work at the sit in to gain more support. He is not a thug. He is not even an activist. He is just an artist. That is why we want to show his work,” Layla said. On September 20, Fady was referred to State Security Investigation (SSI) for emergency detention and is being held for another 15 days while investigations into his case continue. Students at the Higher Institute of Cinema will continue to strike until Fady's release. BM
