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Algiers, December 4th, 2009
To,
Director-General of UNESCO
Madam,
Humanity is standing on the threshold of a new episode, as it could build a common background of moral values (universal) that is struggling to promote despite stresses. Individuals and groups though conscious of their own deficiencies, find abundant cause to forge ahead to promote values like the quest of peace, tolerance, honesty, preservation of human dignity, open access to knowledge, etc, which are the values highlighted in your mission statement.
Education, by which knowledge is acquired, has been through ages a promoter of peace and a live expression of collaboration among nations. It has been risen to the heights of art with a code of ethics and deontology. The school and the university are seen as a heaven of peace, and the relationship teacher-student is a privileged and a sacred one.
Unfortunately, this code is being violated these days.
Indeed, I call upon you as the director-general of Unesco, an agency dealing with education, to intervene to save maybe the life and certainly the dignity of some Algerian students in some Egyptian universities. As a matter of fact, according to the available evidence, viz., photos, videos, victims' statements, etc., many students are suffering agonies and fear for their lives (the case of the two mutilated students is eloquent enough) due to a hostile behavior moved by an unjustified hatred that has been triggered by a soccer ball match. It has even been reported that an Algerian diplomat has repatriated his daughters who experienced an unethical conduct from the principal of their (primary) school.
However, what is unacceptable for me as a faculty member is the fact that the Egyptian universities are no longer a heaven of peace for our students who fear for their life, honor and career. It seems some faculty members expressed their unreadiness to deal with Algerian students, though the teacher or the thesis supervisor is bound by a moral contract with his student from Day-1.  Many are self-supporting students who build their future and career on a degree they expect after having spent some years working hard. Unfortunately, hundreds of them came back home, mentally and physically affected by the tragedy they witnessed helplessly. Some of them were probably getting ready for the viva voce.
With sorrow and astonishment we live through students' testimony, this unprecedented departure from ethics. During the year 1973, Algerians were targeted in France by racism and hatred based deeds, and yet students were safe on the campus.
Whatever reasons one may invoke, I believe every scientist has the moral duty to stand by ethics and moral values. Furthermore, I hope the situation will be assessed as well as the accuracy of the available information to take necessary action accordingly.
With best regards.
Prof. R. Annou
USTHB, Algiers (Algeria).