Student unions denounce verdict to return security to campuses

The student unions of various public universities across Egypt denounced a recent court decision that allowed the return of security forces on campuses.

In a press conference Sunday, the students threatened to escalate protests and marches should the verdict be executed.

Head of Ain Shams Student Union Mohamed Salah Matar said the verdict indicates the regime’s “political bankruptcy,” and is proof of a weak state that only knows repressive solutions and that does not believe in dialogue or inclusion.

In a statement read by Matar, student unions vowed to launch an awareness campaign on campuses about the dangers of the return of security inside universities and the reasons they reject such a move.

Last week, a court overturned a 2010 ruling that banned Interior Ministry security from campuses.

The student unions’ statement called for the release of detained students and condemned any attempts to limit political activity on campus or restrict students’ freedoms.

The statement was issued by the student unions of Ain Shams, Cairo, Banha, Monufiya, Alexandria, Port Said, Assiut, Suez, Kafr al-Sheikh and Tanta universities in coordination with students of the Dostour, Free Egyptians and Strong Egypt parties.

The statement lamented the restriction of freedoms achieved after the January 25 uprising, now upheld by court verdicts.

It situated the decision to allow Interior Ministry security forces on campus to a presidential move against student protests calling for war with Israel aimed at “gagging students and preventing them from expressing their views.”

The statement rejects the move, saying it implies that “three years later, revolutionary and student movements did not bring about change.”

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim maintained that any security interference would only be to “protect students … out of a national duty to preserve their future,” state-run daily newspaper Al-Ahram reported Sunday.

Ibrahim’s statements came during a meeting with representatives from Egyptian university student unions a day earlier, the newspaper said.

The interior minister said that, while there will be no interference, the ministry will not “allow any attempts to use violence or spread chaos or attack facilities and will stand against that firmly.”

However, Mohamed Hassan, vice president of Banha University’s Student Union told Mada Masr that he did not know anything about the meeting.

During the press conference, Matar also confirmed that the students who met with the interior minister did not represent the student unions.

In conclusion, Matar warned the regime against suppressing student freedoms.

“You cannot terrorize us,” he said, “Beware of students’ anger.”