(AFP Photo)
The coalition of Islamic forces, including most Islamist groups in Egypt, issued a statement on Saturday night highlighting its support of security forces and criticising attacks on police stations and security directorates.
“During these times where the nation is facing severe dangers and attempts to abort the Egyptian revolution and destroy Egypt internally, any patriotic Egyptian should do nothing but put his partisan stances aside and hurry to rescue his nation,” read the statement.
The statement said the police institution is a national body that belongs to the people, adding that everyone should support the police in maintaining order and securing public and private property.
The statement praised police officers, claiming that they are subjected to huge pressure to ‘politicise’. It described attacking police stations and security directorates as “attempts to spread chaos in the country” and called on the Ministry of Interior to investigate any violations conducted by its personnel.
Gamal Saber, head of the Al-Ansar Party and former spokesperson of the Hazemoon group, criticised those attacking police stations and security directorates, describing them as “a hired criminal group”. Saber claimed that such attackers aim to destroy Egypt and topple President Mohamed Morsi, described by Saber as “legitimate”.
“Some corrupt security officers and politicians are assisting those criminals in implementing their chaotic plan. The corrupt criminal media outlets also play a great role in falsifying the truth and implementing the Zionist-American plan aiming to destroy Egypt,” he added.
Saber said Islamist groups and other Egyptians would defend public and private property against attacks. “We will defend by peaceful means only, such as forming popular committees to guard state institutions.”
The statement called on all national and popular groups to support police by all possible means, including popular committees. “We are following the current crisis regularly to take the necessary procedures regarding it,” the statement read.
Several Islamist groups and parties signed the statement, including the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), Jamaa’ Islamiya, Al-Wasat Party, Al-Watan Party, Al-Raya Party, Building and Development Party, Union of Preachers, Sunnah scholars’ Association, Al-Asala Party, and several Islamist groups. There were doubts on whether the FJP had signed the statement, but they could not be reached for comment.
The Salafi Al-Nour Party was not among the signatories of the statement.
