Cairo University Expel 23 Students After 19 March Riots

Twenty-three students at Cairo University were expelled over their alleged role in riots that took place last Wednesday.

According to the university’s statement issued on Friday, footage recorded by surveillance cameras showed the students engaged in riots and vandalism which included the destruction of the main gate and several offices at the Faculty of Law.

The students are also accused of raising the flag of Al-Qaeda on campus-an incident that also occurred at Al-Azhar university-and of halting the educational procedure.

Gaber Nasser, president of Cairo University stressed that the university’s decision is in accordance with the law and added that the administration is keen on applying the law to deal with rioters.

Last February, Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour amended a law in order to allow university leadership to expel rioting students.

The law previously stated that a student would be referred to a disciplinary board, which would allocate punishment accordingly.

Last Wednesday’s protest came in response to calls for demonstrations by the Muslim Brotherhood-led National Alliance to Support Legitimacy to mark the three-year anniversary of a constitutional referendum the Brotherhood supported on 19 March 2011.

Clashes broke out between pro-Brotherhood students and security forces across the country.

In Beni Suef, Amr Mohamed Ali Kafaty, 13, was shot dead outside of Beni Suef University’s campus when clashes erupted between police and students, according to the health ministry.

Source : Ahram online