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Red Lines” the Repression of Academic Freedom in Egyptian Universities

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Red Lines” the Repression of Academic Freedom in Egyptian Universities Human Rights Watch June 2005 Vol. 17, No. 6 (E) Reading between the “Red Lines” The Repression of Academic Freedom in Egyptian Universities Acronyms .................................................................................................................1 I. Summary...............................................................................................................2 II. Recommendations..............................................................................................6 III. Academic Freedom: Definition and Legal Protections ....................................8 Right to Education.................................................................................................................... 8 Rights Belonging to Members of the Academic Community..........................................10 Freedom of Opinion..........................................................................................................10 Freedom of Expression .....................................................................................................11 Freedom of Association ....................................................................................................12 Freedom of Assembly........................................................................................................13 Rights Attached to the Institution: University Autonomy ...............................................14 Protection from State and Non-State Actors .....................................................................14 Self-Censorship .......................................................................................................................15 Other Human Rights Protections ........................................................................................15 Egyptian Law...........................................................................................................................16 IV. Background ..................................................................................................... 17 Rise of the National Universities..........................................................................................17 The American University in Cairo (AUC) ..........................................................................20 Influence of Egyptian Universities.......................................................................................21 The History of Constraints on Academic Freedom in Egypt..........................................23 Egyptian Universities Today .................................................................................................25 V. Government Repression....................................................................................27 Instruments of Repression ....................................................................................................28 Police Presence ...................................................................................................................28 Political Appointments ......................................................................................................30 Laws and Regulations.........................................................................................................33 Academic Freedom Violations in the Classroom ..............................................................34 Censorship of Course and Library Books: AUC Case Study.......................................34 Censorship of the Arts.......................................................................................................38 Class Discussion .................................................................................................................39 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................41 Arbitrary Interference with Academic Research................................................................42 Permit Process.....................................................................................................................42 Trial and Imprisonment: Saadeddin Ibrahim Case Study.............................................45 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................48 Controls on Student Activities..............................................................................................48 Student Groups and Demands.........................................................................................49 Student Unions ...................................................................................................................49 Student Clubs, or Usar.......................................................................................................54 Other Forms of Student Expression...............................................................................55 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................57 Far-Reaching Limits on Campus Demonstrations ............................................................58 Violence on Campus: Alexandria University 2002........................................................59 International Politics: Cairo University and AUC 2003................................................61 University Issues: `Ain Shams University 1999 .............................................................63 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................65 Government Victimization of Islamist Academics ...........................................................65 Harassment and Detention ...............................................................................................66 Academic Side Effects .......................................................................................................67 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................68 VI. Non-State Attacks on Academic Freedom: The Islamist Factor....................69 Rise of Islamist Attacks..........................................................................................................69 Classroom.................................................................................................................................71 Research ...................................................................................................................................75 Student Activities and Campus Protests .............................................................................76 Conclusion and Recommendations .....................................................................................77 VII. Self-Censorship ..............................................................................................78 Classroom.................................................................................................................................78 Course Books ......................................................................................................................78 Class Discussion .................................................................................................................80 Research ...................................................................................................................................81 Student Activities and Campus Demonstrations...............................................................83 Conclusion and Recommendations .....................................................................................85 VIII. Institutional Restrictions and Proposed Reforms........................................86 Violations of University Autonomy: Professors and Promotions ..................................86 Lack of Choice: Student Apathy and Frustration ..............................................................88 Budgetary Burdens..................................................................................................................89 Professors ............................................................................................................................89 Students................................................................................................................................91 Facilities................................................................................................................................91 Proposed Reforms..................................................................................................................92 The Ministry of Higher Education’s “Strategic Plan”...................................................92 UNDP Reports ...................................................................................................................94 IX. Conclusion.......................................................................................................95 Appendix................................................................................................................97 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................... 100 Acronyms AUC American University in Cairo CAPMAS Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics CESCR Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural
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