The board of Al-Azhar University headed by Professor Osama El-Abd decided on Wednesday to freeze all exams, evacuate dorms and give employees a holiday throughout the week of Egypt's presidential elections, 22-30 May.
The board said the decision was taken to avoid protests and clashes at the university. Security forces normally deployed in front of the university will be needed elsewhere to secure the elections, the board added.
The university has become a hub for demonstrations by student protesters in favour of deposed president Mohamed Morsi since the start of the academic year last September.
Clashes between the pro-Morsi students and security forces have been frequent, with several students killed in the violence.
In February, the interim authorities issued a decree allowing security forces to enter campuses and granting university administrators the right to expel protesting students.
Since then, tens of students have been dismissed from Al-Azhar University.
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