CAIRO (AA) – Pro-democracy students resumed their protests at Al-Azhar University on Saturday against the military ouster of President Mohamed Morsi as the university teaching staff called for using the state of emergency to prevent the demonstrations.
Students protested on al-Darasa campus, east of Cairo, amid chants against Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb, who supported Morsi's overthrow.
Protest organizers vowed "a big surprise" on Monday as part of what they called "uprising of Al-Azhar students" to bring down the coup and release their detained classmates.
Meanwhile, the University Teaching Club called for enforcing Egypt's state of emergency with the aim of stopping the protests.
The authorities imposed the state of emergency on August 14 following the violent dispersal of two sit-ins in support of the ousted president. The law allows the authorities to ban protests and arrest violators.
"Preventing protests has become an urgent issue now," said Hussein Uweida, the head of al-Azhar University's Teaching Staff Club. "The situation has become critical."
Pro-democracy protests have rocked several universities throughout the country since the academic year began in September.
The most violent student protests have been witnessed at Al-Azhar University, where the academic year began earlier last week after having been postponed by almost one month.
Egypt has remained in a state of turmoil since elected President Mohamed Morsi was removed from power by the military on July 3.
By Sobhi Mujahid – Anadolu Agency
englishnews@aa.com.tr
