Students Suspected Of Worshipping Devil

Forty-five students suspected of drinking one other’s blood and worshiping the devil were charged Thursday with scorning religion - a criminal offense in Egypt.

“It’s a pity. They are well educated and from good families,” Interior Minister Hassan el-Alfy was quoted bu the Middle East News Agency.

Police detained the students Wednesday, saying they had frequently staged orgies in the desert where drugs were taken freely. Police said the women in the group wore their nails long and were fond of black lipstick.

El-Alfy said they drank each other’s blood in their rituals.

Police released 31 of the youths Thursday, but said they were still looking for 20 others. The students, aged between 16 and 20, face up to three years in prison if convicted.

Some of the students were Coptic Christians, who account for nearly 10 percent of Egypt’s 60 million people. The rest were Muslims, the overwhelming majority in Egypt.