Photo: Mohamed Ibrahim Minister of Interior
(AFP-Photo)
After days of protests and strikes conducted by police warrant officers, Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim agreed to 19 of the protesters’ demands.
Ibrahim agreed to provide the ministry with 100,000 pistols to arm personnel facing “extremely dangerous criminals”, reported state-owned news agency MENA. Police warrant officers demanded weapons to help them face what they called “unstable security conditions” in a reference to recent demonstrations across the country.
Ibrahim also agreed to remove sanctions and cancel disciplinary military tribunals for policemen, MENA reported. Other approved demands included considering raising end-of-service rewards for policemen, providing policemen in North Sinai with 120 lounges, providing policemen with residential units, hospitals and clubs, and improving their healthcare system.
The nationwide strike primarily demanded the repeal of the protest law passed by the Shura Council, Egypt’s upper house of parliament. The new protest law bans military and police personnel from engaging in any acts of protest, which includes strikes and sit-ins. The striking policemen also demanded the removal of the Minister of Interior from the cabinet.
Dozens are participating in the strike in Assiut, Luxor, Aswan and North Sinai while hundreds did so in Monufia and Qalyubia. Several cities, including Mansoura and Beni Suef, saw policemen temporarily suspend their sit-in to give authorities time to respond to their demands.
Additional reporting by Ahmed Aboul Enein
