Police permitted on campuses during exams

The Supreme Council for Universities decided on Wednesday to allow security forces onto campuses during the examination period, as universities remain a hotspot for student activism as well as continuing sites of police violence.

A 2010 administrative court ruling had prevented security forces from entering campuses without the univerisities’ permission. The Cairo Court for Urgent Affairs later ruled that security forces could re-enter campuses. This decision was opposed by students and faculty, and the legal basis for security forces’ presence on campus remains murky.

Regardless of the court rulings, security forces have continually had a presence on Egyptian campuses, resulting in the detention and injury of students and professors.

Wednesday’s announcement that security forces would be allowed on campuses during the exam period came amid violent confrontations. At Al-Azhar University, at least 10 students and three professors were arrested and will be detained for 15 days pending investigations on charges that they incited riots, blocked roads, and belonged to a terrorist group, the website of the state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

According to the privately-owned 24-hour news channel CBC Extra, army troops were spotted in the area around the university.

The Twitter account of Students Against the Coup posted images of students that had been injured by what it said was birdshot and rubber bullets.

At Cairo University, security forces fired tear gas at students that blocked traffic and released fireworks. Al-Ahram said the students were members of the Muslim Brotherhood.