Central Security Forces (CSF) dispersed on Thursday night an Islamist protest denouncing Homeland Security practices.
Islamist movements called for a protest at the Homeland Security headquarters in Nasr City on Thursday following afternoon prayers, denouncing what they described as; “Homeland Security’s re-implementation of practices of cracking down on Islamists”.
CSF fired teargas to disperse the protesters, reported state-owned Al-Ahram. The protest ended shortly afterwards. They then created a security cordon around the Nasr City police station to protect it from being broken into.
A group of Islamist protesters took off from Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque following the evening prayers. They pelted rocks and flares at the Homeland Security building while protesting outside.
Some protesters attempted to break into the headquarters, reported AFP. Other protesters harassed journalists covering the protest.
Protesters were angered by the summoning of their colleagues by police officers. Those colleagues had once been detained during the former regime.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Tala’at Abdallah referred on Thursday a complaint filed against Hazem Salah Abu Ismail to the Supreme State Security Prosecution. Abu Ismail, who is the leader of the Al-Raya Islamist Party and infamous for rallying protesters to surround the Egyptian Media Production City, was among the main Islamist leaders who called for Thursday’s protest.
Fahmy Bahgat, a police officer, filed the complaint to the prosecutor general, accusing Abu Ismail and Al-Tayar Al-Islami’s (the Islamist Movement) spokesperson Hossam Abu Al-Bokhary of terrorising police officers, reported state-owned Al-Ahram. Bahgat called on the Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim to arrest Abu Ismail while protesting outside the Homeland Security headquarters. He condemned Abu Ismail’s claims that the Homeland Security practices torture against detainees without providing evidence to his claims.
Investigation into the complaint is expected to begin on Saturday.
The Ministry of Interior denied plans to re-implement practices of cracking down on Islamists before the protest on Thursday, adding that the calls for demonstrations were based on “unfounded claims.”
Some Islamist groups, such as the Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya and Al-Nour Party, announced that they will not participate in the protest.
