Ref: 32/2022

Date: 31 March 2022

Time: 11:30 GMT

This week, Al-Azhar University – Gaza witnessed recurrent violent clashes between student bodies, the latest was this Thursday, 31 March 2022, and included stone-throwing, sound bombs, and physical violence, inducing terror among students and disrupting the educational process.

PCHR condemns these unfortunate events and calls for student bodies to retrieve to dialogue, sparing the university, its facilities, and all educational establishments in general, any forms of violence that hinder academic work and public freedoms.

Previously, a fight between students affiliated with Fatah Youth Movement and others affiliated with the democratic reform bloc, (linked to Mohammed Dahlan). Consequently, the University suspended 4 students affiliated with the democratic reform bloc. In response, student-clashes erupted on political grounds as suspended students and others from the democratic reform bloc organized sit-ins that led to clashes between students, the latest was on Thursday.

According to PCHR follow-up, Al-Azhar University’s eastern campus was the scene for ongoing clashes that started on 26 March 2022 between students, hindering studies and jeopardizing the lives of university students, as rocks and sound bombs were exchanged. Throughout this period, dozens of students affiliated with the democratic reform bloc would gather in front of the eastern campus, which was shut barring them entry, and protested. On the other side of the gate, students affiliated with Fatah movement gathered inside the campus and fired counter-cheers. The situation escalated on multiple occasions to include violent actions, including throwing rocks inside campus, as well as sound bombs, causing many students to seek shelter within university halls. The police intervened, shut the main gate, and broke the fight.

PCHR strongly condemns these recurring actions in a prestigious educational institution and emphasizes the need to spare educational institutions from political quarrels, and to respect students’ right to education in adequate conditions and a creative environment. PCHR demands responsible authorities at the University take the necessary measures to deter such actions and to ensure student safety. PCHR also calls for respecting all student bodies and their right to unionize.