- EGYPTMB News
- December 28, 2013
- 3 minutes read
PRESS RELEASE: Muslim Brotherhood Condemns Violent Crackdown on Student Protests
Press Release
The Muslim Brotherhood strongly condemns the violent crackdown on student protests taking place across university campuses in Egypt. In an attempt to silence any voice of opposition, the military authorities have deployed security forces on several university campuses including the University of Zagazig and the University of Azhar.
Over the last few months, the student movement at the University of Azhar has been on strike following the killing and detention of their fellow students and professors by security forces. This included boycotting their end of term exams in protest at the brutal actions of security forces. In retaliation, several threats have been issued by the university’s administration stating that should student protesters attend their exams, they would be arrested from the exam hall.
Today, security forces fired tear gas, live bullets and birdshot at student protesters on campus which has resulted in the death of one student, Khaled El-Haddad and hundreds of injuries. In the first term alone, 9 students at the University of Azhar were killed at the hand of security forces and hundreds have been arrested after the university campus was stormed more than 5 times. Security forces have also set fire to the Faculty of Business building at the University of Azhar and later blamed students for this cowardly action. Students assert that their strike is completely peaceful and that security forces are fabricating these accusations against them in order to justify their brutal crackdown and repression against those students leading the peaceful struggle against the coup.
The Muslim Brotherhood calls upon all local and international human rights groups, student groups, intellectuals and governments to condemn the daily violations against students’ freedoms and human rights in Egypt.
The Muslim Brotherhood London Press Office