The recent clashes that took place between pro-Muslim Brotherhood students and security forces at Al-Azhar University have been seen by some observers as "part of conspiracy" that is aimed to "destabilize" the country. But online activists, on the other hand, have been furious at the clashes that led to the death of at least one student, accusing the security forces of committing "a new massacre". Both views, however, reflect the current political polarization in Egypt. Since the start of the new academic year in October, Egyptian universities have been witnessing on-going protests by supporters of ousted Islamist president Muhammad Morsi. The protests have reached their peak at Al-Azhar University which has a strong presence of students affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. This has led to calls to return the "university guards"; namely, reinstating the security control over campuses. Student protests began on Wednesday 20 November morning outside Al-Azhar Institute condemning the arrests and death of Al-Azhar University students during the past four months. The protest soon turned violent as security forces interfered. Conspiracy Some local observers have seen the recent clashes as part of "a conspiracy" aimed to destabilize the country. Political science professor Sa'id Sadiq said the recent clashes at Al-Azhar University were "part of an integrated scheme to distort Egypt's image abroad". "The clashes are aimed at portraying Egypt as unstable on the political and security levels". For his part, member of the Islamic Research Academy Abdallah al-Najjar denounced the clashes, saying they were part of "a conspiracy" plotted against Egypt. Speaking to private Al-Hayat TV on 22 November, Al-Najjar urged the Brotherhood students to "repent before it is too late". The Ministry of Interior meanwhile accused the protesting students, whose numbers it estimated at 1,000, of attempting to break into Al-Azhar Institute. The ministry also accused the students of blocking the main Salah Salim road (which links the east and west of Cairo), describing them as belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood. It announced the arrest of 24 "rioters", adding that one of them is of Turkish nationality. Students have further protested outside Al-Azhar University dorms, calling for the release of the students arrested earlier. Security forces soon interfered and reportedly used teargas to disperse the protesting students. One Al-Azhar University student, Abd-al-Ghani Mahmud, was killed in the clashes. The university's student union said he was a medicine student. The Ministry of Health spokesman said the student's cause of death was a birdshot wound. He added that no injuries were reported after Wednesday's clashes. Following Wednesday's violence, Al-Azhar University Chairman Usamah al-Abd announced a ban on all protests within the university campus. Students, nevertheless, staged a protest on 21 November morning inside university campus, condemning the death of their fellow student a day earlier. The protests coincided with court verdicts that sentenced Al-Azhar students to jail. On 14 November, 12 students were sentenced to 17 years in prison and an EGP 64,000 (around 9,140 US dollars) bail each for breaking into Al-Azhar Institute on 30 October. Meanwhile, the Nasr City Misdemeanour Court on 21 November sentenced 40 people to one and a half years in prison for rallying and attacking security personnel. The aforementioned were arrested following clashes around Al-Nasr road in October, after a protest staged by Al-Azhar University students marched outside campus and blocked Al-Nasr road. The clashes prompted the government to take a decision allowing police forces to enter university campus without waiting to take permission. Before the 25 January 2011 revolution, the presence of security forces inside university campuses was the norm and they were known as the "university guards". Following the revolution, however, a court ruling ended this phenomenon. The ruling was hailed by revolutionaries at the time. But after repeated clashes inside campuses over the past few months, there have been calls for the return of "university guards". On 31 October, the Cabinet issued a decision allowing security forces to enter university campus after taking the permission of the public prosecution. Condemnation But Egyptian social media users, however, criticized the security forces over the violence, accusing them of committing "a massacre". Twitter user "@osalemm" tweeted: "Egyptian army and police committed a massacre against anti-coup peaceful students at Al-Azhar University." Another user "@LoveLiberty" said: "Egypt junta's crackdown continues. The latest victim was a student of medicine killed at Al-Azhar University." The official account of the revolutionary 6 April Youth Movement "@shabab6april" tweeted: "Students of 6 April Youth Movement express solidarity with Al-Azhar University students who were assaulted yesterday."
