Anger is rising among the Bedouin population of the governorate of North Sinai due to the security forces failure to release thousands of prisoners still in custody, most of whom have been acquitted. Murad Muwafi, governor of North Sinai said their release is contingent on the Bedouin handing over fugitives to the authorities.
“We heard that hundreds of detainees had been freed and sent to the Security Directorate of North Sinai,” said Musa el-Maniay, a member of the Sawarka tribe. As soon as we received the good news, the detainees’ families threw parties in anticipation of their return, however, they were not released and ten detainees were sent to the Gharbinat prison, he added.
The renewed imprisonment of the Sinai Bedouin could provoke a crisis that will intensify over time, said el-Maniay.
Murad Muwafi repeated the government’s stance on the issue, saying “The Bedouin of North Sinai must hand over their fugitives and wanted criminals in return for the release of a number of detainees.” In response, el-Maniay said, “This kind of talk is unrealistic, and is comparable to the logic of prisoner exchanges between states.”
“We cannot hand over the fugitives as this is the responsibility of the government officials who are neglecting their duties and have no right to ask civilians to prosecute those who are violating the law,” said Hasan Khalaf, a judge in Rafah.
“I don’t excuse the security apparatus for handling some issues poorly, especially since Sinai society is governed by tradition. We are not giving the police a carte blanche to make mistakes, but are actively trying to redress matters and search for better solutions,” Muwafi said.
“Some of the Bedouin are engaging in acts of violence, including attacks on security forces,” he added. “Mossad is skillfully trying to raise tensions between the Bedouin and security forces,” said Muwafi, noting that the “situation remains tense between them.”
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
