TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, has been criticized by the Indonesian Students' Association (PPMI) of Egypt for their inactiveness to assist their fellow college students detained by Egyptian authorities.
Five Indonesian college students were arrested by Egyptian authorities during the early hours of Wednesday, November 22. The five of them are Dodi Firmansyah Damhuri, Muhammad Jafar, Muhammad Fitrah Nur Akbar, Ardinal Khairi and Hartopo Abdul Jabar.
“The response of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo was sluggish, as a matter of fact, the PPMI in Egypt responded [to the situation] quicker,” said Pangeran Arsyad Ihsanul Haq, President of Egypt’s PPMI on Friday, December 8.
Arsyad said that the PPMI deplores the statement made by embassy’s official, which he thinks will only make matters worse. Arsyad claims that the official recommended families of the detained students to hold a rally at Egypt’s immigration office, police headquarters, and Al Azhar institution.
“According to Egyptian law, holding a demonstration is considered illegal and a criminal offense,” said Arsyad. “This is totally counter-productive in solving this problem and would create negative safety implications towards Indonesian students in Egypt.”
Arsyad revealed that of the five students, Muhammad Fitrah Nur Akbar is still detained by Egyptian authorities at the Qism Tsani police headquarters in Cairo for unexplained national security reasons.
Dodi and Jafar were immediately released on Wednesday, November 22, while Ardinal Khairi and Hartopo Abdul Jabar were deported from the country by Egyptian authorities for yet another unexplained national security threat.
BUDI RIZA