CAIRO: A police tribunal sentenced a police sergeant to six months in prison for insubordination when he refused to stand guard in front of an Israeli Embassy. Upon the announcement of the verdict, the 38-year-old Mohamed Khalaf went on hunger strike.
Khalaf’s efforts to raise public support certainly seemed to work. The Daily star Egypt spoke to a random sample of Egyptians and this is what they had to say.
“He is wrong to disobey orders, but I would have done the same if I was in his shoes.
Mai Mustapha, 20, University student
“Gadaa (Brave)
Alaa, 45, engineer
“Yes of course he is right to refuse to guard the enemy, but if I were in his shoes and it would cost me a sentence I would just do my job.
Amr, 26, barista
“As far as I know inside the army, they give preference when it comes to issues of religion, they prefer to ask Christians to guard Churches, so they should ask others who wouldn’t mind protecting Israel, if this Khalaf does.
Yasser, 33, restaurant manager
“He is wrong to disobey orders but what he did is right. Which is more important his right of choice or his oath to obey?
Malak Mohamed, 16, student
“He should have reacted differently than going on a hunger strike. He is trying to cause an upheaval against the government, trying to gain public support and media attention, when he could have quietly dealt with the issue.
Moushira Abou El Lail, 58, engineer
“The government had no other choice but to give him a sentence or else it would have caused problems between Egypt and Israel. We have signed a peace treaty after all.
Sally, 28, computer engineer
“He should not disobey orders. It’s his duty, his job, whether it’s right or wrong.
Dareen, 28, human resource personnel
“Where is personal freedom? Human rights are basic rights and universal, that should come before orders.
Anonymous, 31
“If he is so patriotic why did he join the police force?
TL, 32, commercial manager
“If he is 38, he was at school when the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty of 1979 was signed. He must have been aware of all that and had the choice of not going into the police force. He should live up to the responsibilities of his decision, or quit.
Hanan Sweilam, 43, housewife
“He is wrong, he deserves to be punished.
AS, 35, government employee
“He disobeyed an order, and it’s an over-exaggerated reaction.
Shadi, 31, marketing executive.
