Update: Interior Ministry denies raid on Popular Socialist Alliance Party

An official at the Interior Ministry’s media center denied that the ministry ever raided the Popular Socialist Alliance Party’s headquarters in Alexandria or detained two of its members, the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported on Tuesday morning.

The ministry said there was a security check carried out in the vicinity of the center, as private security guards from nearby buildings had reported people coming and going from number 34 — the Popular Socialist Alliance Party’s headquarters — at odd hours.

“We went to the location with the permission of the building’s owner, who confirmed that the apartment was owned by the Popular Socialist Alliance Party and was frequented by party members,” the Interior Ministry source said, adding that the police left again without taking anyone with them and without causing any disturbances.

The source maintained that the Interior Ministry plays its part in law enforcement without interfering in the political lives of citizens and is committed to maintaining an attitude of neutrality.

Members of the Popular Socialist Alliance party, and other political parties, however, tell a different story. Several parties released a statement on Sunday denouncing a raid on the Popular Socialist Alliance Party's headquarters.

According to the statement, security forces raided the office before a meeting scheduled to discuss the logistics of a ceremony honoring Shaimaa al-Sabbagh, a party member who was killed in January during a peaceful march in Downtown Cairo.

Among the parties that signed the statement are: The Public Current Party, Al-Dostour, the Karama Party, Al-Aadl, the Social Democratic Party, the Egyptian Communist Party and other local rights organizations.

The groups asserted that the death of Sabbagh, arrest of four Popular Socialist Alliance members, the defaming of the reputation of its deputy head and the alleged raiding of the headquarters is a “red flag” and a dangerous sign concerning security policies that they say do not differentiate between those who carry bombs and those who carry flowers.

The signatories listed a number of demands, the first of which is the reform and restructure of the Interior Ministry and developing of its capacity to fight terrorism with full respect for the law and the rights of the citizens.

Secondly, they urge the amending of the Protest Law, which, they maintain has been used to commit violations.

Thirdly, the immediate release of all political prisoners, and finally, the revising of all legislation that contradicts the spirit of the constitution.

According to the statement, security forces raided the headquarters of the political party in Alexandria on Saturday after neighbors allegedly reported one of its members carrying a police walky-talky. They damaged belongings in the office and arrested two party members, the statement alleged.

On January 24, Sabbagh, a leading member of the Popular Socialist Alliance Party, was shot dead near Talaat Harb Square in Downtown Cairo. She sustained wounds in her back, head injuries and punctured lungs. Following her death, the party issued a statement claiming she was shot by police.

Twitter and social media members later shared photos of what reportedly seemed like a masked security member aiming at Sabbagh, before Prosecutor General Hesham Barakat imposed a gag order on the case.