Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is alarmed by a police assault on students who were engaging with officers on patrol at Al Azhar University on Tuesday morning, also leading to an assault on campus security who intervened.

According to a statement by Al Azhar University, the police assaulted a number of students and university security guards while on campus on Tuesday morning, 21 September 2021. The university described the police conduct as “unacceptable given the sanctity of education,” and called for an official intervention that would protect its students and employees and likewise prevent the recurrence of such incidents.    

Gaza’s police department said in a press release: “we are working closely with Al Azhar University to investigate what happened on campus this morning. Nevertheless, the University’s statement alters facts and holds false accusations against the officers involved in the incident. We hereby reassure everyone that maintaining an atmosphere of quiet and order inside university campuses is a goal that we all strive to achieve.”

While Al Mezan condemns the police assault on the university students and security guards, the Center calls for an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the assault, including the altercation that occurred with the students. Effective measures must be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, notably after years of hard-earned stability at Al Azhar University.      

Al Mezan also stresses that any police intervention into campus matters must first go through the university administration—a procedure that has long been in place and agreed upon by all parties involved. Without yet knowing the full circumstances around the incident, Al Mezan stresses that educational institutions must be spared political feuds and student representative bodies from all political backgrounds must have equal access to student unions and societies.