CAIRO: A liberal German member of Parliament submitted questioning recently over the recent anti-military junta protests at the German University in Cairo (GUC). MP Kleine Anfrage asked the government if it had knowledge about the students' protests calling for democracy and transparency in the country, according to German reports. The federal government said it was aware of the situation through a number of students at GUC, who emailed the German government to inform them of the oppressive methods conducted by the administration towards the protesting students. GUC recently expelled two students indefinitely and suspended three others for two weeks over their participation in activism on campus. The students were attempting to show a video part of the campaign “military liars”, or Kazeboon, which exposes the violent crackdown on protesters meted out by the military. The government added that the university's administration and the German Embassy in Cairo were also providing them with updates regarding the protests. The MP asked if the government had an interest in the demands for more democracy and transparency, and if so, what opportunities they see to do so. The government answered positively, saying it “indeed wishes for greater progress in democracy and development,” adding that it granted funds of the sum of 100 million euros in support of democratic change in Arab world. These funds are intended for areas such as democratization, promotion of cultural dialogue and education. “The Federal Government will therefore support together with the intermediary organizations operating in Egypt, the democratization and transformation processes active in universities and colleges. This applies particularly to a prominent partner institution such as the GUC,” said the German Cabinet. Amr Abdel Wahab and Hassan Zeko were expelled from the university and Ahmed Bostan, Mostafa Essia, Abdel Hamid Abou Zeid Mekawy were suspended for two weeks, according to students at GUC. The GUC administration warned families of students that if the students would not stop marching and protesting on campus chanting against the military council, they would be expelled. However, the threats from the university have only fired up the students against what they have dubbed censorship of freedom of expression and oppression by the university. Abou Zeid, one of the suspended students, published the suspension letter online through his Twitter account, which reads: “Due to your disrespectful behavior and your violation of courtesy and good manners, we hereby acknowledge that you are suspended for two weeks.” Five other students at GUC were turned over to an investigation committee at the university for organizing an anti-military junta protest inside the campus and were accused of a long list of violations. Inciting students to break into the administration building, negatively influencing the educational process, endangering the lives of students due to over crowding and pushing, yelling loudly inside the campus and leading the “troublemakers student body,” were the accusations, according to a report by the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/Zys4j Tags: Activism, featured, GUC, Military Liars Section: Egypt, Europe, Human Rights, Latest News
