Egypt

Minister of Higher Education assigns private security contractor to Al-Azhar University

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb has authorized the Minister of Higher Education to assign the private security contractor Falcon to Al-Azhar University during the new academic year that starts after the Eid al-Adha in order to vamp up security.

Falcon CEO Khaled Sherif said the company was contracted to secure 15 other state universities as well. “We are prepared with surveillance cameras and gates and X-rays that detect explosives,” he said, adding that the company will not operate on campuses. “We will call the police if students do not comply with our security measures.”
 
“The prime minister told us the safety of the students comes first,” he said. “We will coordinate fully with directors of security nationwide.”
 
“Students will get entry cards,” he said, explaining that the picture of the student will appear on the computer screen so as to prevent switching cards. “And we will have several entry gates to prevent crowding.”
 
“We will also inspect the cars of the faculty members,” he said.
 
Since the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsy, state security forces have struggled to quell student protests as university campuses have been focal points for students to express their greivances against the new military-supported government.
 
 
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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