This coming Saturday, February 22, a demonstration, “Iraq-Palestine One Problem, America and Israel One Enemy,” is planned in front of Cairo University, as reported in the Egyptian daily, Al Ahram. The paper emphasized that both the place and the timing are significant. February 21 is “International Student Day,” a day of particular significance in Egypt, dedicated to the memory of those students who died during demonstrations against British imperialism and the Egyptian Royal Family.
The Egyptian leadership, like other Arab regimes during the twentieth century, is inclined to restrain mass demonstrations which might undermine the leadership. Over the past two months, participants in protests against the war in Iraq have been arrested in order to reduce the extent of these protests. The Egyptian leadership, of course, has no problem with opposition to the war, but is wary of the risk that this kind of demonstration might have on the leadership.
The Emergency Law (1981) permits demonstrations only inside universities and mosques. In the last few days, two demonstrations were held in Cairo; one in the religious university, Al-Azhar, and the other one in Cairo University. They were relatively low profile, with only a few thousand demonstrating. The demonstrators claimed that: “Whoever strikes Iraq today will strike Wiraq (an area of Cairo) tomorrow.” A huge police force encircled the protestors and prevented them from going out onto the street.
The demonstration on Saturday is demanding an end to the American presence in the Middle East, to boycott American and Israeli goods and to abolish laws restricting civil and human rights. Demonstrators across the Arab world are seeking a united front in support of Iraq.