Hommam Al Nassim 
The incident of a Helwan University student being denied access to campus because of a dress she wore has caused an uproar in Egypt, prompting a parliamentary move to hold the government accountable.
Haneen Fouad, a student at Helwan University’s Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, was banned from entering the university on the grounds that her clothes were not suitable for university uniforms.
Local media claimed that the dress the student wore was “short and exposed”. When Haneen tried to enter the college, security personnel stopped her and prevented her from entering, stating that the dress did not meet the requirements of the campus.
The incident prompted MP Samira El-Jazzar, a member of the Egyptian House of Representatives, to submit an official inquiry to Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, to find out the justifications for preventing the student from entering and whether there is a uniform in the college.
Al-Jazzar wondered about the laws and standards governing university uniforms, and whether the dress is considered contrary to them, noting that the absence of clear standards leaves the decision to the culture and mood of security staff and college officials.
The MP called for investigating the incident and holding accountable those responsible for preventing the student from entering the college, stressing that the dress is a natural dress for girls in Egypt, and that the student should not be deprived of her right to education because of the dress.
The population growth rate in Egypt decreased by 1.4%