Al-Sisi warns students against 'rebellious ideas' and 'hostile activities'

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi warned university students not to “engage in any hostile activities or follow any rebellious ideas”.

The warning came in a speech yesterday evening during a ceremony honouring the highest-ranking students in Cairo University, and which was broadcast on state television.

In his speech, Al-Sisi called on “students to pay attention to the importance of learning at the beginning of the new academic year,” which starts on October 11, and “not to engage in any hostile activities or follow any rebellious ideas aimed at undermining the homeland’s capabilities”.

Al-Sisi accused unnamed “anti-national groups” of “exploiting students to achieve their goals and objectives”.

He called for “the need for a concerted effort from all institutions in the rehabilitation and training of young people, and this responsibility should not fall upon the universities only.”

The Egyptian president continued saying: “There should be a role for institutions of thought and public opinion, and civil society, as well as the media, which is playing a pivotal role in raising awareness and shaping public opinion, the role of which has been evident over the past three years.”

He urged the Egyptian media to “reflect the values ​​of the Egyptian state and its ancient civilisation, to immunise young people against any misperceptions, in an era where there are many ways of exchanging information.”

He noted the importance of training and rehabilitating young people, both to join the labour market and to enhance their participation in all various community sectors.

Al-Sisi described “the state’s interest in the process of developing universities to do their part in disseminating education and enlightenment, and to raise awareness and active participation of Egyptian university students into all walks of life.”

At the end of the ceremony, Al-Sisi requested “a memorial picture of the civilian college graduates with their colleagues from the military college who attended the ceremony” be taken.

Clasping his hands together, he said the photograph is “the embodiment of the meanings of solidarity among all members of Egyptian society, and a symbol of the mutual unity and pride among the people and the armed forces and police.”

The movement Students Against the Coup, which opposes Al-Sisi, described the ceremony as a “security” event.

In a statement the group said: “The ceremony did not respond to the calls of the student union and the leading figures of the student movements and that the only students that attended this meeting were those given clearance and nomination by the security authorities.”