Presidents of Egyptian universities to be given suspension powers

The Supreme Council of Universities agreed to a new article giving university presidents the authority to fully suspend students involved in “terrorist and disruptive acts,” in an emergency meeting Sunday, state-run news portal Al-Ahram reported.  

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education Minister Hossam Eissa.

Presidents of universities can now suspend students if they commit acts that target university facilities, disrupt exams or university work, or incite violence, as per the article.

Universities can investigate such acts within a week, and their decisions cannot be appealed except under disciplinary boards, which should include a State Council member.

This comes amid ongoing violence on Egyptian campuses, which followed a call for the boycotting of final exams by the Students Against the Coup (SAC) movement.

SAC is an umbrella coalition headed by Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated students to oppose the military-backed interim government.

Four students have died in clashes between the police and demonstrators to date, three from Al-Azhar University and one from Cairo University.

Last week, the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters banned student protests on university campuses, unless authorized by university presidents.