Egyptian security forces entered the campus of the female branch of Al-Azhar University to break up a demonstration and fired tear gas, an eyewitness told The Cairo Post Sunday.A number of female students from the university organized a protest early Sunday to demand the release of detained students and reject new laws adopted by universities in Egypt, the witness added, noting that the protest started at 9 a.m., not at noon like previous protests.
The students launched fireworks at security personnel, which led to tear gas being used and two trucks loaded with police officers in plainclothes entered the campus, she added.
Al-Azhar University has seen many clashes between pro-Muslim Brotherhood elements and security forces since the second day of the academic year on Oct. 12.
The Ministry of Higher Education has taken several decisions to secure universities and address student demonstrations at universities this year, particularly installing new security gates through a private security company called Falcon, and banning all on-campus political activity and demonstrations.
On Oct. 23, Minister of Higher Education Sayed Abdel Khaleq suspended 27 students from their universities due to their participation in protests and clashes that took place following the beginning of the new academic year, Youm7 reported.
