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Reading Between the “Red Lines” the Repression of Academic Freedom in Egyptian Universities

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Reading Between the “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..............................................................................................7 III. Academic Freedom: Definition and Legal Protections ....................................9 Right to Education.................................................................................................................... 9 Rights Belonging to Members of the Academic Community..........................................11 Freedom of Opinion..........................................................................................................11 Freedom of Expression .....................................................................................................12 Freedom of Association ....................................................................................................13 Freedom of Assembly........................................................................................................14 Rights Attached to the Institution: University Autonomy ...............................................14 Protection from State and Non-State Actors .....................................................................15 Self-Censorship .......................................................................................................................16 Other Human Rights Protections ........................................................................................16 Egyptian Law...........................................................................................................................16 IV. Background ..................................................................................................... 18 Rise of the National Universities..........................................................................................18 The American University in Cairo (AUC) ..........................................................................21 Influence of Egyptian Universities.......................................................................................23 The History of Constraints on Academic Freedom in Egypt..........................................25 Egyptian Universities Today .................................................................................................27 V. Government Repression....................................................................................29 Instruments of Repression ....................................................................................................30 Police Presence ...................................................................................................................30 Political Appointments ......................................................................................................33 Laws and Regulations.........................................................................................................36 Academic Freedom Violations in the Classroom ..............................................................37 Censorship of Course and Library Books: AUC Case Study.......................................37 Censorship of the Arts.......................................................................................................42 Class Discussion .................................................................................................................43 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................45 Arbitrary Interference with Academic Research................................................................46 Permit Process.....................................................................................................................46 Trial and Imprisonment: Saadeddin Ibrahim Case Study.............................................49 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................52 Controls on Student Activities..............................................................................................52 Student Groups and Demands.........................................................................................52 Student Unions ...................................................................................................................53 Student Clubs, or Usar.......................................................................................................57 Other Forms of Student Expression...............................................................................59 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................61 Far-Reaching Limits on Campus Demonstrations ............................................................62 Violence on Campus: Alexandria University 2002........................................................62 International Politics: Cairo University and AUC 2003................................................65 University Issues: `Ain Shams University 1999 .............................................................68 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................70 Government Victimization of Islamist Academics ...........................................................70 Harassment and Detention ...............................................................................................71 Academic Side Effects .......................................................................................................72 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................74 VI. Non-State Attacks on Academic Freedom: The Islamist Factor....................74 Rise of Islamist Attacks..........................................................................................................75 Classroom.................................................................................................................................77 Research ...................................................................................................................................80 Student Activities and Campus Protests .............................................................................81 Conclusion and Recommendations .....................................................................................83 VII. Self-Censorship ..............................................................................................83 Classroom.................................................................................................................................84 Course Books ......................................................................................................................84 Class Discussion .................................................................................................................85 Research ...................................................................................................................................87 Student Activities and Campus Demonstrations...............................................................89 Conclusion and Recommendations .....................................................................................90 VIII. Institutional Restrictions and Proposed Reforms........................................ 91 Violations of University Autonomy: Professors and Promotions ..................................91 Lack of Choice: Student Apathy and Frustration ..............................................................93 Budgetary Burdens..................................................................................................................95 Professors ............................................................................................................................95 Students................................................................................................................................96 Facilities................................................................................................................................97 Proposed Reforms..................................................................................................................97 The Ministry of Higher Education’s “Strategic Plan”...................................................98 UNDP Reports ...................................................................................................................99 IX. Conclusion......................................................................................................101 Appendix.............................................................................................................. 102 Maps .................................................................................................................... 105 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................... 107 Acronyms AUC American University in Cairo CAPMAS Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics CESCR Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
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