On Tuesday, 25 November 2008, al-Aqsa University – Khan Younis witnessed sad incidents when heated arguments developed into fighting between female students of the Islamic Bloc and those of Shabiba Youth Movement (affiliated with Fateh).
A police force intervened and beat the students with batons.
As a result, 14 female students were injured and suffered mild to moderate bruises, according to medical resources at Nasir Hospital and al-Amal Hospital.
A university lecturer was also injured.
According to the Center's field investigations, the Islamic Bloc was granted a permission to organize a party at the university's gym, but it organized it in an open area instead.
According to the Islamic Bloc, the gym hall that the university offered was too small for their party.
The university's resources said that organizing the party in an open area close to the university's classrooms caused skirmish among students.
The Islamic Bloc's resources said that female activists of Fateh's Shabiba attacked a number of participants at the party.
The Shabiba resources said that most of the speeches delivered at the party were provocative and against Fateh.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the sad incidents that occurred inside the premises of al-Aqsa University.
The Center emphasizes the need to open a serious investigation and hold accountable those involved in it as a means to prevent similar incidents.
The Center once again calls for sparing the local universities of the political conflict and the repercussions of the internal divide.
It calls for taking necessary procedures to disallow student movements to deviate from peaceful behavior and attitude and focus on helping and defending students regardless of their political affiliation.
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