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| Africa North |
| Army arresting 'innocent civilians' in Sinai: Popular Current |
| 2013-10-30 |
| [Al Ahram] The leftist Popular Current has accused the army of arresting innocent civilians in the Sinai Peninsula during their crackdown on bad boys. In a statement released on Tuesday the group founded by Nasserist politician Hamdeen Sabbahi backed the military's operations against "terrorism" but highlighted a number of abuses. For example, the group said "innocent civilians" had been killed at Soliman El-Sayah and Mustafa Nasr checkpoints in late August, and "The closure of main roads prevents workers, farmers and students from travelling without offering alternatives." The local government in North Sinai has failed to monitor the military operation which has completely paralysed state institutions in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, the group added The army randomly arrests citizens who they claim are Takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... elements [radical Islamists], then later releases them, according to the group. It cited the case of a mentally ill man called Mousa Hassan who was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly being a member of a bad boy group. "We demand extra caution and procedures to protect civilians. Operations against terrorism should not lead to violations against civilians," added the statement which also called on the National Council for Human Rights and NGOs to coordinate with the government and army for an immediate investigation into violations against Sinai civilians. At a presser on 15 September, army front man Ahmed Ali denied the army had attacked civilians in Sinai, saying that "If we had used excessive violence in Sinai, we would have ended terrorism within 24 hours." Ali said respecting human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... is a priority for the army and accused Sinai-based journalist Ahmed Abu Deraa of publishing false news about the army, including accusations it had killed children in Sinai. Following the ouster of Mohammed Morsi ...the former president of Egypt. A proponent of the One Man, One Vote, One Timeprinciple, Morsi won election after the deposal of Hosni Mubarak and jumped to the conclusion it was his turn to be dictator... on 3 July, the army has launched a military operation against terrorist and criminal groups in Sinai. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 That's different. They're not considered Egyptians, even by Nasserites. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-10-30 11:29 |
| #2 As opposed to, say, killing and burning Copts? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-10-30 07:36 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Spereting Tingle4064 2013-10-30 06:50 |