CAIRO
The Rabaa sign, which commemorates the killing of hundreds of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi in the forcible dispersal of their sit-ins, has sent an Egyptian student into prison.
High school student Abdullah Assem, 17, and his friend were arrested on Friday when they raised the four-fingered sign in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square for a photo image, a security source told Anadolu Agency.
According to the source, the pair will be questioned by prosecutors on Saturday on charges of flashing the sign and staging a protest without permission.
Assem has been picked up to represent Egypt in an international computer contest after inventing an electronic system last year that helps disabled people to write on computer, using their eyes.
He was due to participate in the contest in California, in which representatives of around 60 countries will take part.
Assem's father, however, cast doubts on allegation, saying his son was arrested after clashing with a policeman in downtown Cairo.
"I still don't know where he is now," the father told AA.
He said his son had nothing to do with politics and that he arrived to Cairo from the southern province of Assiut to finalize his travel documents to participate in the competition in the United States.
Assem was scheduled to meet Education Minister Mahmoud Abul-Nasr on Sunday. He is planned to travel to the U.S. on May 4.
By Islam Mosaad
englishnews@aa.com.tr
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