Greek students protest against university police law

Greek students while protesting in Athens

 Greek students have been protesting across the country against a law that would create a university police force, which they say would stifle freedom of expression.

Legislation proposed by the center-right New Democracy party, to be approved by parliament on Thursday, aims to reform the education system. The law plans to establish a special university police force authorized to guard campuses and arrest those considered troublemakers, as well as a "disciplinary council" capable of suspending or expelling students.

Supporters of the reform argue that Greek universities have long been ravaged by violence and those against it fear it will impede freedom of expression.

"The problem of violence in Greek universities is eternal. The police will expel extremist political groups and preserve the infrastructure, finally making the university a safe place," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

Many dark moments in the recent history of Greece have occurred in universities and schools. In 1973, the tanks of the Greek junta or "Colonel Regime" that fell a year later, ended up with the occupation by force of the Athens Polytechnic, where 26 people were killed.