An Egyptian student was recently banned from leaving a university lecture after receiving news of her father's passing, angering thousands last week.
According to Masrawy, the young woman was attending class at Beni Suif University. The incident made the rounds online after several of her classmates shared the story on social media, sparking outrage among Egyptians.
Amid the backlash, the university's president, Dr. Mansour Hasan, issued a statement on the controversy in an episode of ON TV's "Koul Yawm" show.
"He told her: 'So what if someone died'"
In his comment on the incident, Hasan said the professor inappropriately and insensitively handled the situation.
"This educator is known for strictly prohibiting students from entering or leaving halls during his lectures. This is an individual action... had it been me, I would've asked someone to drive the student home," he said.
Now identified as Esra Mohamed, the student and a few of her colleagues asked to leave the hall without telling the professor about the death.
"Even after students told the lecturer that Esra's father had passed away, he was unmoved and reacted in a way that left her in shock. He told her: 'So what if someone died?,' when all she needed to hear was something to comfort her," he added.
When approached by press, Mohamed refused to comment on the incident, saying she has reported it to university officials.
The news left people outraged
"This professor is ill"
"He has no feelings"
"He has no feelings... in a situation like this, he should've offered his support and condolences after allowing her to leave class."
"That's it, humanity is dead"
Why would she even need his permission?
"Why did she even ask him? Is she imprisoned?"
University officials have since apologized to the young student
Following the social media uproar, both the professor involved in the incident and Dr. Hasan issued an apology to Mohamed.
A video capturing a public apology to the student circulated online on Tuesday. In it, the lecturer is heard saying he has since called the young woman to offer his condolences.
He also asked university officials to name her the "ideal student of the year," as she had left her ill father's bedside to attend his class.