.Iraq bans political activity in its universities
BAGHDAD, July 6 (Reuters) - Iraq's government banned all political activity in its universities on Thursday to try to defuse sectarian tensions between Shi'ite and Sunni students and lecturers.
Baghdad's two main universities are flooded with posters of Shi'ite clerics and arguments have often flared with professors and students from Iraq's minority Sunni community, once dominant under Saddam Hussein.
"We decided unanimously in cabinet to ban all political activities inside universities," Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a news conference.
"We want the universities to protect their curricula and their staff by preventing division and disputes," said Maliki, whose government is struggling to come grips with communal bloodshed that has pitched the country towards civil war.
Maliki's decision will be welcomed by Sunnis who fear they are becoming targets in an increasingly politicised education system.
A Shi'ite student at Baghdad University was killed by gunmen after organising a campus party celebrating the victory of the Shi'ite Islamist bloc in national elections. A Sunni professor who had clashed with the student and voiced anger at the celebration was killed in retaliation.
Threats of further violence have forced the cancellation of some lectures for up to a week.
Maliki said students must focus on education and leave politics to the politicians.
Reuters
Baghdad's two main universities are flooded with posters of Shi'ite clerics and arguments have often flared with professors and students from Iraq's minority Sunni community, once dominant under Saddam Hussein.
"We decided unanimously in cabinet to ban all political activities inside universities," Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a news conference.
"We want the universities to protect their curricula and their staff by preventing division and disputes," said Maliki, whose government is struggling to come grips with communal bloodshed that has pitched the country towards civil war.
Maliki's decision will be welcomed by Sunnis who fear they are becoming targets in an increasingly politicised education system.
A Shi'ite student at Baghdad University was killed by gunmen after organising a campus party celebrating the victory of the Shi'ite Islamist bloc in national elections. A Sunni professor who had clashed with the student and voiced anger at the celebration was killed in retaliation.
Threats of further violence have forced the cancellation of some lectures for up to a week.
Maliki said students must focus on education and leave politics to the politicians.
Reuters
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