Ref: 55/2007

Date: 08 July 2007

Time: 13:00 GMT

Emphasizing the Sanctity of Universities of Academic Freedoms, PCHR Calls for Immediate Investigation into Storming the Campus al-Azhar University

PCHR strongly condemns storming the campus of al-Azhar University in Gaza City by the Executive Force, and calls for immediate investigation into this raid, emphasizing the sanctity of public institutions, especially educational ones, and the necessity to protect them and maintain their independence.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 09:15 on Saturday, 7 July 2007, 2 vehicles of the Executive Force broke into the campus of al-Azhar University in Gaza City and stopped near the building of laboratories. Members of the Executive Force demanded the keys of doors from the security officer of the university, and when they did not obtain them, they broke the doors and broke into the buildings. They confiscated at least 2,000 kilograms of fertilizers, which are used by the School of Agriculture.

Dr. Jaward Wadi, Chairman of al-Azhar University, stated that he requested the Executive Force to give him a certificate that they had confiscated these materials, but they refused. They wanted him to go after them to a site of the Executive Force, which used to be the headquarters of the Preventive Security Service, to take what he wanted.

It is worth noting that al-Azhar University obtained the confiscated materials, which are used as fertilizers, in 2007 as a donation from the World Bank to meet urgent needs of the university. These fertilizers were used for farms belonging to the School of Agriculture in Beit Hanoun town. When Israeli Occupation Forces invaded Beit Hanoun in the same year and destroyed parts of the School’s building, the administration of the university was forced to move these materials to the main campus in Gaza City. They had been kept in stores.

In a statement published on the Executive Force’s web page, the spokesman of the Executive Force, Islam Shahwan, denied that the Force had broke into the campus of al-Azhar University. He also stated that “what exactly happened is that a staff member of the laboratories called the Executive Force because their was a problem and the laboratories were damaged, so the Force entered the campus in coordination with the administration of the university.” He further expressed astonishment from media reports that the campus was stormed and contents were confiscated.

PCHR strongly condemns this raid, and:

1)      Calls for a serious investigation in the circumstances of storming the campus and confiscation the fertilizers, and to bring back the confiscated materials.

2)      Stresses the sanctity of universities and academic freedoms, and calls for any actions towards them to be in accordance with the law.