• EGYPT
  • July 17, 2013
  • 5 minutes read

Student and FJP Leaders Reject Coup Government, Vow to Continue Protests Untill Democracy Restored

Student and FJP Leaders Reject Coup Government, Vow to Continue Protests Untill Democracy Restored

In a press conference Wednesday in Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square, Dr. Essam El-Erian, deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), affirmed that the mass demonstrations outside the Cabinet building express rejection of everything produced by the military coup.


"These protest rallies are huge. They will continue to reject the coup government. The demonstration reached the U.S. Embassy, ​​to protest the anti-democracy American stance."


On the sidelines of the press conference, Egyptian university student unions launched the movement ‘Students Against Coup’ (SAC) in the presence of Mohamed Magdy, Secretary of the Egyptian Student Union (ESU) Executive Office.


Mohamed Magdy denounced what he called the Egyptian Interior Ministry bullying of peaceful demonstrators, while it could not stop hired thug crimes, car theft, muggings or burglaries, nor the smuggling of fuel and other subsidized goods to black markets, and could not even manage traffic control.


"Student anger and revolt will be victorious, not only for reinstatement of President Mohamed Morsi, but also the Constitution and freedoms of citizens.


"We, members of the student movement, will not allow the confiscation of our liberties. We will not allow universities to go back to pre-revolutionary times where State Security officers appointed heads of Student Unions."


Mohamed Magdy, on behalf of the ESU Executive Office, announced rejection of the so-called transitional government headed by Dr. Hazem El-Beblawi, and the ESU’s refusal of Dr. Hossam Issa as Minister of Higher Education, asking how can he, a law professor, be involved in a coup against the country’s Constitution?


Meanwhile, Aya Samir, coordinator of the movement ‘Female Students Against The Junta’ condemned the massacre by the police and army in front of the Republican Guard HQ and Ramses Square street battles, both of which targeted peaceful demonstrators.


"The movement is against the military coup commanders, not the Egyptian army. The Egyptian army has the best soldiers on earth. It should not be involved in supporting an illegitimate coup.


"I call on Al-Azhar grand sheikh, the Coptic Pope and the political parties that failed in all previous electoral tests, and which are now involved in the coup, to retreat."


The founding statement of SAC welcomed all students of all political colors in all the movement’s peaceful activities. It also called for the release of all detainees, specially students.


Meanwhile, Ahmed Al-Baqri, Vice-President of the Egyptian Student Union (ESU), said: "Persist in protest activities rejecting the military coup.

 

"The putschists overturned and trampled democratic choices. Student unions must continue to demonstrate and protest in a peaceful manner, all the while escalating peaceful action – indefinitely."