Sisi promises legal changes to tackle ‘individual’ police violations

Unlawful actions by some individuals in the police force will be dealt with according to the law, with perpetrators held accountable, presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef said in an official statement on Friday, following a meeting between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar in Sharm el-Shiekh.

President Sisi arrived in Sharm el-Shiekh on Friday to inaugurate the African Economic Summit, but scheduled an urgent meeting with Abdel Ghaffar after a policeman unlawfully shot a man dead in the Cairo neighborhood of Darb al-Ahmar on Thursday night.

The shooting caused uproar in the local area, with thousands of residents protesting in front of Cairo Security Directorate and security forces deployed in case of any escalation.

“Some legal amendments or new legislation will be enacted to control security performance on the Egyptian street in a way that ensures that those who commit unlawful violations against citizens are brought to justice,” the statement read, promising that the legislation will be sent to parliament within15 days for discussion.

“The powers given to some members of the security forces are primarily intended to protect the lives and property of citizens within a framework of mutual respect between the police and citizens,” Youssef added in the statement.

The spokesperson described recent cases of police violations as “irresponsible acts that affected the rest of the patriotic police apparatus.”

The statement concluded, “President Sisi affirmed that Egypt and its people appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the honorable policemen, who remain through the night to achieve stability and security in the country, contribute to achieving its progress, and also reject any individual violations against citizens,” the statement concluded.

Driver Mohamed Sayed Ali, 24, was shot dead by a policeman in Darb al-Ahmar on Thursday night after the two got into a scuffle.

Following the young man’s death, outraged citizens beat the policeman, causing him serious injuries, including fractures and internal bleeding. The police said that the injured policeman is now in hospital under police custody, and the prosecution has started its investigation into the incident.

Thousands of angry residents and family members participated in the funeral of the dead man in Sayeda Nefesa mosque on Friday, chanting anti-government slogans before heading to the Cairo Security Directorate to protest against police violations.

There has been a string of incidents involving excessive police violence in recent months. An attack on two doctors at the Matareya Hospital has sparked an ongoing protest movement, with doctors threatening a nationwide strike if the offending police officers are not brought to justice.

Public anger also erupted recently when two citizens in Ismailia and Luxor governorates were killed while in police custody, prompting thousands of people to protest againt police torture and other unlawful practices.

In December 2015, Sisi addressed public anger over police abuses in a speech in front of the Police Academy, describing such incidents as “individual violations” that should not be considered representative of the Egyptian police force as a whole.

“There are 300 police stations across Egypt; violations only occur in one or two. Anyway, I'm not here to talk about that, I'm here to thank you,” Sisi said at the time.