Hundreds joined lively protests last week against the visit of Egyptian president Abdelfattah al-Sisi to the UK. Cameron’s red carpet welcome for Egypt’s military dictator sparked two days of demonstrations on 4 and 5 November, uniting trade unionists, arms trade campaigners, students and Egyptian activists in opposition to the visit.

Student activists kicked off the action on 4 November, as campaigners from Egypt Solidarity Initiative and Stop Sisi joined the national march for free education. Protesters marched through central London shouting slogans such as “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts” and “down with student debt”, highlighting the anger felt at £9000 a year fees.

Egypt Solidarity activists handed out leaflets and held a banner that highlighted cases of students and academics held in Egyptian prisons without trial by the current military regime. Many UK students and activists were aware of Sisi’s crackdown on education rights and freedoms in Egypt…