| University of Zawia | |
| Established: | 1988 |
| Type: | Independent university |
The University of Zawia (Arabic: جامعة الزاوية|Jamaa't Azzawia, previously known as Seventh of April University) is a university located in the city of Zawiya, Libya.[1] It was established as an independent university in 1988.[2] The campus is six kilometres south of the city centre,[3] and serves the Zawiya, Jafara and Nuqat al Khams districts.[3]
In 1983, University of Tripoli established a branch of their College of Education in Zawia.[3] In 1988, the institution was established as an independent university, called the Seventh of April University, with separate administration and funding.[3] [4] The reference to 7 April was officially described by the university as referring to "the great student event on the seventh of April 1976". On 7 April 1976, student protests took place in Tripoli and Benghazi protesting against human rights violations, calling for a civilian government and free and fair elections. Counterdemonstrations took place on the same day and "many students were detained for months". The date of 7 April was used from the first anniversary on 7 April 1977 and annually to the late 1980s as a date for public executions in Libya in reference to the "great student event". The Organizing Committee for the April Demonstration referred to the usage of the 7 April anniversary as a "trademark" of Muammar Gaddafi's government.
The university was renamed in 2011, the year of the Libyan Revolution that overthrew Gaddafi, as the University of Zawia.