The East Cairo Prosecution referred on Monday three students at al-Azhar University to the criminal court for committing on-campus acts of violence.The students are accused of inciting violence and taking part in "riots" within the university campus during protests held on October 21. They are also accused of vandalising public property and "striving to topple the regime and suspend the constitution."
The academic year has witnessed violence since its start on October 11.
A law student at the University of Alexandria was reported dead on October 21 due to wounds sustained during on-campus violence during the first week of the year.
Before the start of the academic year, the cabinet discussed measures to be adopted to quell any possible tension.
Minister of Higher Education Sayed Abdel Khalek hired a private security company on September 24 to guard 12 public universities during the academic year.
Strict security measures adopted by Falcon Security Services at the university gates nevertheless triggered violence from the students, who became frustrated with their delayed entrance into campus.
University campuses have witnessed unprecedented violence throughout the past academic year, with at least 16 students killed amid on-campus protests, according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression's (AFTE) Student Observatory.
The pro-Mohamed Mursi "Students against the coup" movement has been organising protests against the former Islamist president's military ouster throughout the past academic year as well as this year. Protests have often devolved into clashes with security forces.
