Groups affiliated with political parties have been banned at Al-Azhar University, its deputy head said on Monday.

Tawfiq Nooreddin made the announcement during a phone interview with Sada El-Balad satellite channel.

Last year, student supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi held near daily protests at the university, which often descended into clashes with security forces.

Several students were killed in the violence.

Hundreds of others were arrested and are still behind bars.

The university also banned around 500 students from living on campus.

The new academic year is schedule led to start on 11 October.

Nooreddin said he believes this academic year will be peaceful, following the election of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who has a "certain vision concerning security."

Al-Azhar University has taken all the necessary measurements to ensure security, he added.

In August, Cairo University head Gaber Nassar also banned politically affiliated groups from operating on campus during the new academic year.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/112039.aspx