6 Ain Shams University students arrested during Monday protests

Six students were arrested at Ain Shams University on Monday while protesting on campus in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi and against the upcoming constitutional referendum, reported the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA).

The students were accused of blocking the roads around campus and attacking security forces using rocks and Molotov cocktails, according to MENA.

Security forces claimed the detainees confessed that they intended to use weapons during their protest.

The students have all been referred to the prosecution, MENA said.

A census conducted by the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) last month reported that at least 510 students have been arrested since Morsi was removed from office in July, 211 of whom were enrolled in Al-Azhar University, 66 in Mansoura University, 39 in Cairo University and 37 in Ain Shams University.

Since Morsi’s ouster, protests organized by Students Against the Coup (SAC) have been confronted by security forces, and the level of violence has escalated on campuses across the country.

SAC is a movement launched by students who support Morsi’s return to power. Four students have died in clashes between the police and demonstrators since July. Three of those killed were students at Al-Azhar University and one was enrolled at Cairo University.