Student activist Hossam Mahmoud was expelled from Cairo University's mass communication course in September, fearing retaliation for his political organizing. The university claims it was a technical error they plan to correct, but he remains unreinstated. BDS Egypt accuses the institution of targeting pro-Palestine activists.
Hossam Mahmoud, a BDS Egypt member, discovered on September 29 that he was permanently expelled without prior notice for allegedly failing to complete required course hours. He proved via his student portal that he had fulfilled the coursework, and faculty acknowledged an administrative error but delayed reinstatement, causing him to miss midterm exams starting November 9.
The administration refused to let him or his lawyer review the expulsion decision, insisting it was a technical issue unrelated to his activism. Mahmoud's campus activities included a bid to run in last year's student union elections, which faced restrictions, and requests to host pro-Palestine events that were denied. In June, he signed a letter to the university president demanding solidarity with Professor Laila Soueif, who was on hunger strike protesting her son activist Alaa Abd El Fattah's unfair imprisonment.
BDS issued a statement on Wednesday accusing the university of targeting Mahmoud for his activism and Palestine solidarity, amid escalating restrictions on such activities in Egyptian universities, where several students have been arrested. Parties like the Socialist Popular Alliance Party's youth office, Karama Party, Bread and Freedom Party, and Revolutionary Socialists issued solidarity statements demanding his reinstatement, a committee for his full midterms, and a transparent investigation. Cairo University has not publicly commented on his status.