Private university in Damascus expels students who criticize it on social media
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Private University in Rif-Dimashq punished a number of students for criticizing the university on social media.
About 27 students were punished – 19 were expelled, while eight were given a warning and threatened with expulsion if they criticized the institution again.
The university had repeatedly warned students against criticism of the university on social media, and expelled many of them due to this.
It also imposed a fee of 100,000 Syrian pounds on each student who was expelled from the university.
The decision sparked great dissatisfaction among students in Damascus, as some considered it illegal, while others mocked it.
“They want to silence us so that we do not expose corruption and bribery inside the university; they know what they are doing, that’s why they expel students,” said Salem Ghadir (a pseudonym), a law student.
“Instead of listening to the complaints of students, who pay the university huge sums for their tuition fees, they expelled them,” said Lina Karayam, who studies at the College of Dentistry, in a post on Facebook.
In turn, an administrator at the university who preferred not to be named stated that there are strict directives from the Ministry of Higher Education to punish any student who criticizes the university on social media.