Islamist university president forced into retirement

Egyptian authorities last week sent the Islamist president of a state-run university into retirement for alleged irregularities.

Last Wednesday the country’s recently elected President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi issued a decree suspending Mohamed Sherif, president of Minya University, from duty until he reaches retirement age, local media reported.

The decree was due to Sherif's affiliation with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood movement and involvement in financial irregularities being investigated, according to the media.

“The decision to suspend me from my job is unfair and politically motivated,” Sherif told independent newspaper Al Masry Al Youm. He denied implication in any irregularities.

Sherif, a professor of agriculture, became president of Minya University in south Egypt in 2012 after winning election for the post.

El-Sisi, who took office in June, led the army last year to depose president Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood following massive protests against his one-year rule.

Dozens of Islamist lecturers have since been arrested on charges of inciting violence.

A controversial law issued in late June gives el-Sisi the right to appoint leaders of public universities, scrapping a long-fought-but-short-lived system allowing academics to elect holders of these positions.