Ref: 75/2008
Date: 25 August 2008
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns Violence at al-Azhar University in Gaza
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns acts of violence that broke out yesterday at al-Azhar University in Gaza between members of Hamas and Fatah. The violence erupted when members of the Islamic Block took over a room in the university campus and hung posters on the walls, violating an administrative decision. Members of the Student Youth Movement then intervened to stop them. The ensuing violence included attacks against administrative staff and students. PCHR reiterates its call upon all parties to neutralize universities and academic institutions from the political conflict between the Fatah and Hamas movements, and to respect academic and public freedoms as guaranteed by Palestinian law.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, and eye-witness statements, at approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 24 August, supporters of the Islamic Bloc, the student body of the Hamas Islamic Residence Movement, took over a room at al-Azhar University that is used by the Students’ Union Council. Islamic Bloc supporters hung posters on the walls and distributed leaflets within the university campus, breaching an administrative decision to freeze political activities by student bodies within the university campus. Some students, including members of the Student Youth Movement, the student body of Fatah movement, subsequently removed the posters hung by the Islamic Bloc, and attempted to take them out of the room. Violence broke out between the two groups, followed by gunmen in civilian clothes entering the university. The gunmen attacked the students indiscriminately. The university evacuated university in order to contain the violence. The police also intervened.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
