Egypt: Academic Freedom Under Assault (Human Rights Watch, June 9, 2005)

Egypt: Academic Freedom Under Assault (Human Rights Watch, June 9, 2005): "The Egyptian government stifles academic freedom in universities by censoring course books, outlawing research about controversial issues and intimidating student activists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
"The authorities also fail to protect citizens from Islamist militants who publicly attack professors and students."

“The government’s persistent violations of academic freedom have badly undermined Egypt’s standing as the educational leader of the Arab world,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should end their excessive and arbitrary interference in the activities of scholars, students and universities.”

The 107-page report, “Reading between the ‘Red Lines’: The Repression of Academic Freedom in Egyptian Universities,” details ongoing government restrictions on classroom discussions, research projects, student activities, campus demonstrations and university governance. The report addresses conditions in public institutions including Cairo, Alexandria, `Ain Shams, and Hilwan Universities, and private institutions like the American University in Cairo. "