Egypt’s al-Azhar University announced on Wednesday the permanent expulsion of 21 female students it accused of committing on-campus violence.The expelled students joined marches and protests on campus, shouting offensive chants against the army, police, state institutions, and al-Azhar figures, Dean of Islamic Studies in Zagazig, Amaal Abdel Rahman, said.
The students assaulted security personnel and staff, when they were banned from raiding the Dean's office, Abdel Rahman added. They also damaged university property and a number of cars.
The university recently expelled 11 students permenantly, and is currently investigating eight others who took part in similar events in preparation for the dismissal.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued on October 23 a law to reorganise Azhar and its institutions. The law allows the expulsion of faculty staff, employees and students who partake in acts of violence.
Azhar University suspended on October 29 seven students for participating in protests organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, the university chairman said.
The university expelled 23 more students whom it accused of being involved in on-campus protests and riots on November 11.
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.
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.
At least 370 students were expelled from 10 different universities last year, AFTE reported in June.
