Security forces control student protests in Giza

Security forces thwarted protests organized by students Sunday seeking to disrupt the first day of school in Giza, the state news agency MENA reported, as Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim ordered heightened security at schools and universities across the country in anticipation of protests. 

These demonstrations have been called for by the Students Against the Coup movement as part of the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, a coalition of Islamist groups. Under the banner, “The Youth are the Pillar of the Revolution,” protests have been called at schools and universities across the country to coincide with the start of the academic year Sunday. 

The Interior Ministry is coordinating with school and university officials to implement security orders in the vicinity of their campuses. These measures include preventing any cars from parking around the fences, according to MENA.

Dozens of Muslim Brotherhood supporters had gathered in front of schools in Abul Nomros neighborhood in Giza and attempted to prevent students from entering, instigating clashes with residents, which were diffused by police forces who fired shots in the air, MENA reported.

The Freedom and Justice Party’s online portal however reported that security forces fired tear gas inside the school’s yard and classrooms, causing 15 cases of suffocation.  

The FJP portal also reported that dozens of students were arrested.

The Students against the Coup movement also organized events in Cairo and Ain Shams universities, as well as schools and universities in Mansour, Beni Suef, Sharqiya and Helwan.

Cairo University’s campus security thwarted attempts by students to “attack” Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa as he attended the thesis discussion of one of the faculty members, Al-Ahram reported.

Muslim Brotherhood students blocked the university’s gates and prevented students and faculty from entering or exiting the campus. Altercations were also reported with campus security, Al-Ahram said.

Eight students were arrested in Ismailia Saturday for participating in marches against what they refer to as a military coup, calling for acts of student protest such as not attending classes, the FJP’s portal reported.