Seven Egyptian policemen face charges of ‘incitement against police’

Giza state security prosecutors ordered on Sunday the detention of seven low-ranking policemen for15 days pending investigations for “incitement against the police” and “attempting to disturb public opinion,” Ahram Arabic website reported.

The seven policemen were arrested at the Egyptian Media Production City on the outskirts of Cairo as they were on their way to participate in the TV talk show “10 PM” Saturday night on Dream TV.

They were due to to speak about the latest controversies involving alleged police violence in Egypt.

Among those arrested was policeman Mansour Abu-Gabel, the spokesperson for the coalition that led the sit-in of low-ranking policemen in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya last summer, demanding financial and social benefits.

Earlier on Sunday, dozens of police personnel in Sharqiya gathered at the security directorate to protest the arrest of their seven colleagues.

The arrest comes at a time when low-ranking policemen are facing heavy public criticism following the killing of a driver at the hands of a policeman in Cairo, as well as the alleged assault of doctors at a Cairo hospital by nine low-ranking officers.

source: Ahram Online