(AFP Photo)
The cabinet denied on Saturday that the Ministry of Justice issued a decision deputising a number of administrative university security personnel to arrest students, describing news of the decision as “unfounded”.
Over two weeks ago, state-run Al-Ahram reported that Minister of Justice, Adel Abdel Hameed, issued the decision to deputise university security under the pretext of a “lack of security” on university campuses. The decision reportedly gives the deputised security personnel the right to file reports against students who commit crimes.
Student representatives have been meeting with public universities’ administrations to voice their disapproval of the decision since news of its issuance surfaced.
Nabil Nour El-Din, chairman of Sohag University, announced on Saturday that the university will not abide by the decision to deputise security, reported state-run news agency MENA. The decision came after consultations with student union representatives. Nour Al-Din stated that disciplinary procedures within the law governing universities are sufficient to punish errant students.
Banha University also cancelled the deputising decision within its campus on Saturday following a meeting between the university chairman Ali Shams Al-Din and the deans’ council, according to the state television’s official website.
Minister of Higher Education Hossam Eissa denied in a conference held at Cairo University on Tuesday that he had a hand in the decision. He added that the decision was called for by former Minister of Higher Education Mostafa Mosaad, who was also the Chairman of the Supreme Universities’ Council at the time. He told students who attended the conference that he would not enforce the decision, calling on the Supreme Universities’ Council to vote on cancelling it.
Cairo University chairman, Gaber Nassar, cancelled the decision in Cairo University last week. Hisham Ashraf, head of the Cairo University Student Union, said that in Tuesday’s conference, Nassar explained that his decision to cancel deputising university security was a result of the students’ demands.
Mohamed Mohamedein, chairman of the Suez Canal University in Ismailia, cancelled the decision in the university on Tuesday.
Until 2009, the Ministry of Interior was responsible for providing Homeland Security personnel for securing universities. In 2009, the administrative court banned this decision, establishing an “administrative” university security.
