The same is true with Egypt’s Arab Spring in which youths were the heroes. It was also the youth of Tunisia’s Arab Spring that carried the flag for change.

However, political leadership in some countries in the Arab world has tried to check the participation of the youth in political activities. Even in the case of Egypt, there was an effort to ban political activities at universities to nip at the bud the momentum for change.

While reviewing the history of student activities in Egypt, writer Amr Mustafa noted that old student regulations in the country allowed university students to participate in political actions. However, the general political climate in the country and the government’s disposition were factors that affected students’ participation. In fact, in the days of King Farouq, student participation in politics was seen as normal, and student demonstrations could bring about the downfall of governments. The writer also pointed out that the inability of some oppressive governments to keep students from interfering in politics led to tragic incidents of violence. The writer narrated the instance of Prime Minister Al-Naqrashi causing the drowning of many students when he ordered the opening of the Abbas Bridge on the Nile during a demonstration in 1946.

Tailpiece: “We should raise our children to be like the Egyptian youth” — Barack Obama.