Update: University disputes police account of student killing

Cairo University has challenged claims by security forces that a student killed Thursday was off campus when he was shot.

In an official statement Saturday, the university’s administration condemned the death of Engineering student Mohamed Reda after police forces entered the area to disperse student protests, the state-owned Egynews website reported.

The statement challenged claims by security forces that Reda was not shot on campus, saying that he was shot with a pellet as he was walking inside the university campus. While the police did not physically enter the campus, witnesses say that the police shot Reda from their position directly in front of the university's gates. The statement referred to video proof of where the shooting had occurred.

The administration has formed a committee to investigate the police action. The committee includes the vice president for student affairs, the head of the university's legal unit and a representative from the students. The statement said the committee would identify " those responsible accountable for this vicious attack that the university will never forgive."

Gaber Nassar, head of Cairo University, urged authorities to release detained students and called on students and faculty members to practice self-restraint and not disturb the educational process. Nassar is also a member of the 50-member committee tasked with drafting the new constitution.

Meanwhile, students at Cairo University’s School of Engineering have gone on strike in protest at Reda’s killing. A march is also planned on Sunday, to take place in front of the university's main gate. Students and faculty from other schools and universities are expected to take part.

Aida Seif Al-Dawla, a professor at Ain Shams University, said on her Facebook account that faculty members should unite with the students in their quest to protect student freedoms.

She wrote: “There are calls for partial strikes by faculty members as a start of an escalation. There is no space for middle grounds on what is happening this time. It is very possible that the future of the university [freedoms] is on our hands, please join and spread the word.”

Student leaders condemned the killing of Reda in a Saturday press conference and released a number of demands.

Saying that they seek justice for all students killed since the start of the January 25 revolution, they called for the removal of Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim and Higher Education Minister Hossam Eissa. Both of the ministers, the students said, should be held accountable for recent events.

The students demanded the release of all detained students and cancellation of the protest law. They also called for the reinstatement of students who were suspended because of their participation in protests.

They criticized the head of Egypt’s Student Union, Mohamed Badran, for not fighting hard enough to protect student freedoms. Badran is a member of the 50-member committee tasked with drafting the constitution.

Student union representatives present at the press conference included those from Cairo, Ain Shams, Helwan, Kafr al-Shiekh, and Behna universities. With them were student leaders from secular political parties and other movements.