AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY EXPELS MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS
Cairo, 13 Rajab 1435/12 May 2014 (MINA) – President of Al-Azhar University Osama Al-Abd said in an interview with Almasry Alyoum that the university punished 1,301 students by dismissing them from college and dorms for their participation in anti-coup protests.
Al-Abd claimed that 750 students have been referred to disciplinary boards, while 131 have been completely expelled from their colleges, according to Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
Moreover, he said 150 students have been expelled from their dormitories.
The Azhar University Student Union called on international human rights organisations and NGOs to stand up with hundreds of students facing injustice by the junta-led regime. The Union said that university campuses “have turned into military barracks”, and that students are routinely suppressed and assaulted by security forces located on campus.
Earlier this month, the oldest seat of Islamic learning in the Middle East has expelled 76 students from different faculties for “involvement in riots.”
Al-Azhar students have been at the forefront of protests supporting ousted president Mohamed Morsi and opposing Egypt’s current interim authorities since the start of the academic year last August.
Continuous clashes between security forces and students at the university have culminated in several deaths among their ranks. Dozens of Al-Azhar students have been tried, with tens sentenced for their involvement in clashes with police.
Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour issued a law in February allowing university heads to expel protesting students. Twenty-five Al-Azhar students were expelled in March.
The start of the current academic term was postponed for three weeks for security reasons. Greater security measures were implemented to counter the pro-Morsi protests common at some of Egypt’s top universities.
Egyptian police forces have been accused by rights groups of heavy handedness and random arrests during the confrontations with students. (T/P03/E01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
