CAIRO: The Administrative Court will examine a lawsuit filed against a decision to prohibit about 50 Cairo University students from sitting for their final exams, independent Mehwar Satellite TV Channel reported Thursday.
“The students were accused of urging people to offer donations to Palestine, conducting prayers for the souls of the Palestinian martyrs and hanging leaflets on trees,” Mohamed Abu Horayra, Legal councilor of Haqi (My Right) Center for Aiding Students, told “48 Hours” TV show.
The decision was made by the Faculty of Commerce Dean Adel Mabrouk.
“The Dean’s decision violates legal procedures. In such cases, a student should first be brought before a disciplinary board to decide a penalty,” Ahmed Ezzat, Head of the Legal Unit at the Association for the Freedom of Thought and Expression, told Daily News Egypt.
“Besides, they are being punished for something they allegedly did in 2009,” Ezzat noted.
Recent press reports said that most of the 50 students belonged to the April 6 Youth Movement and the Muslim Brotherhood.
“This is what makes it illogical as the two groups never cooperate,” Ezzat argued.
According to Abu Horayra, the students attempted to meet the Dean, holding a demonstration outside his office, but he refused to see them. Neither did he agree to receive their petition.
The court hearing is scheduled for Sunday, May 9.
“We hope that the court will issue a ruling early enough for students to catch the exams,” Abu Horayra said.
Meanwhile, students from the two movements held consecutive protests at Cairo University for the past few days, calling for the cancellation of the Dean’s decision.
