More Arrests, Expulsions At Egyptian Universities Sunday

Turmoil continued at Egyptian universities on Sunday with 40 students arrested at Mansoura and 14 expelled from Zagazig.

The expulsions at Zagazig were for alleged participation in violent protests on campus, while the arrests at Mansoura were for alleged rioting.

Clashes erupted on Sunday between supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and police at Al-Azhar, Helwan, Cairo, Ain Shams, and Minya universities.

Since the beginning of the new academic year on 11 October, over 180 students have been arrested, according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, an independent rights body.

Police have stormed at least five campuses since the start of the current academic year.

Hundreds of people have been jailed for breaching a protest law, passed in November 2013, that bans all but police-sanctioned demonstrations.

All politically affiliated groups and events have been banned by university administrations.

The government has employed private security firms at 15 public universities.

Students have launched a protest campaign in defiance of the new security arrangements.

Last year, universities faced unrest as students protested Morsi’s ouster in July of 2013 what they label a coup.

Source : Ahram online