Campaign to Release Detained Al-Azhar Students

In a message recently posted on Islamist websites, students from Al-Azhar University in Cairo called upon administrators and users of Islamist websites to help promote a campaign for the release of some 200 of their fellow students who are being detained by the Egyptian authorities. The students were arrested during December 2006 for participating in demonstrations against alleged government interference in student union elections. The message, headlined "International Campaign for the Release of the Abducted Al-Azhar Students," reads: "We ask you [forum participants and website administrators] to assist us in our campaign and to take part in it by posting on your websites the campaign banner (see image below)… "