Restrictions for candidacy in the long-delayed student elections

The first Egyptian student elections after 2012 will take place - but with restrictions on candidacy to be seen as objective than the "dissident" students. Polls are due to start on Monday on November 16 and last until December on campuses across the country.

More than 23,000 students are in the election. However, according to a survey rules, students of 'terrorist' and 'punished' group banned running.

The ban was mainly aimed student supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, as prescribed in Egypt as a terrorist organization by the army in 2013 ouster of former president Mohamed Morse, a senior official of the Islamist group's first democratically elected leader of the country.

Students associated with the '6th April Youth Movement, an activist group banned by a court decision, is also prohibited.

Applicants must be Egyptians, must pay his university fees and be engaged in on-campus activities. They must also have nothing to do with political parties, or have been subjected to disciplinary measures.

Candidates generally come from "Voice of Egyptian students, perceived pro-government alliance as opposed to political activities on campus. His opponents opposition students standing as an independent, accepting academic independence and seeking the release of detained students.

Background

University in Egypt experienced a violent anti-government protests since Morse’s demolition.

The unrest has included clashes with police, resulting in the death and imprisonment among students. Academic institutions have also expelled dozens of students accused of encouraging and participating in the violence on campus.

In the run-up to the elections, the authorities of higher education warned against political contenders campaign and promised not to allow interference in the poll.

"No student shall be excluded from the election, unless shown to be associated with terrorist entities participating in acts of disorder within the university, was sentenced by a court or been subjected to disciplinary measures from their university Board," said Minister of Higher Education Ashram al- Sheehan.

"We do not have the lists prepared in advance excluding students. But we have the right to prevent terrorist entities from existing student union."

Since the coup Morse, Egyptian authorities have banned political activity on campuses, accusing the Muslim Brotherhood exploitation students to encourage problem.

"The Ministry of Higher Education is keen to have a respectable student unions to serve the students, far from bias toward any political party," El-Sheehan added.

Opposition unsatisfied students

Opposition students claim that electoral rules were deliberately worked to exclude them from standing. They say dozens of students have been disqualified from the race as a result.

"The main reason for sidelining those students is unclear article, which stipulates that a student who wants to be a candidate to be included in the relevant activities of the university," said Mahmud Salami, a student affiliated with the Islamist Strong Egypt Party.

"The Ministry of Higher Education is not set up a clear mechanism for the implementation of this provision, the thing that allowed administrators in some universities it is interpreted arbitrarily."

Bah Mocha, an official at the ministry, denied that some students are targeted for exclusion from contesting the elections. Students are "disqualified for failing to meet the conditions defined in the student election regulations," said Mocha in press remarks.

"Every student who is disqualified shall have the right to appeal against it."