Al Azhar students demonstrate against 'A Banquet for Seaweed'
Egypt, Religion, 5/9/2000

Scores of Al Azhar students yesterday demonstrated in the Campus of Al Azhar University and demanded the controversial novel "A Banquet for Seaweed", by Syrian writer Haider Haider, be banned in Egypt. They said that the book is defaming Islam.

Interior Ministry source said that scores of students of Al Azhar University gathered late Sunday in the University's campus where they staged a demonstration protesting against a novel by a Syrian novelist featuring blasphemous extracts.

"Although the students were notified that the novel is not circulated in the market at present and that the official quarters will make a quest on the issue, some students wanted to escalate the situation," the official said.

"The police had to use tear gas to disperse the students, who stoned the police," he pointed out. No injuries were reported except for some cases that were affected by the gas and they received medical treatment.

On his part, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said government is keen on protecting students while in the meantime it does not condone practices of those who go against law and legitimacy in voicing protest.

Commenting on the incidents, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni said his Ministry could never tolerate any attempts to defame religions. "An ad hoc committee of notable religious clerics at the moment examining "A Banquet for Seaweed", the controversial novel," the Minister said. "Upon the panel's recommendations, the Ministry will take the appropriate decision," added the Minister.

Speaking to Egyptian TV on controversy raging on the novel, Hosni pointed out that each member of the committee would put forward a separate report on all aspects of the book. The Minister referred to the fact that the novel had been available at bookshops since 1983, noting that it has been reprinted for the tenth time.

In the same vein, President of Al Azhar University Ahmed Omar Hashem said he was informed by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and other officials that a committee was discussing proper measures "that will preserve ethics and ensure respect for religion". He added that he had met a delegation representing the protesting students and listened to their view, an Egyptian statement said.

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