Al-Azhar University in Mansoura expels female student for hugging her male colleague

Al-Azhar University’s branch in Mansoura has expelled a female student after she appeared in a video footage circulated on social media showing her hugging her male colleague in the university’s campus, local media outlets reported.

The female student, who was enrolled in the Faculty of Arabic Language, was referred to a disciplinary hearing over an accusation of undermining the university’s reputation.

However, the female student can appeal the decision.

The video footage, which went viral earlier this month, showed a young man carrying a bouquet of flowers, kneeling before a young woman and then hugging her, in what seemed as a marriage proposal.

The President of the Mansoura branch, Mohamed Mahrasawy, described the incident as a complete violation of Al-Azhar’s morals and ethics.

The university spokesperson, Ahmed Zarie, said that the footage has caused a “public outcry” and delivered a “bad image” of Al-Azhar University, which strictly segregates the genders, AFP reported.

He added that hugging between unmarried men and women violates “the values and principles of society.”

For the male student, the spokesperson said that he could face sanctions, after the disciplinary council completes investigations. The male student was enrolled in a different university and entered Al-Azhar University that day only to surprise his female colleague.