About a dozen police officers protested in front of the Interior Ministry on Sunday rejecting interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf’s announcement that officers accused of killing protesters in the 25 January revolution will be dismissed, calling it an illegal decision.
“We demand the respect of the judicial system because it is illegal that the general prosecution rejects a court decision only to calm the people,” said Ahmed Samir of the General Coalition of Police Officers, a group that advocates for police.
“Sharaf’s decision proves his ignorance of the law and his drifting behind anger waves from protesters.”
The officers presented demands to Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy, who promised to respond as soon as possible, according to Ahmed Rashad, who is responsible for the legal affairs of the coalition.
In a TV address on Saturday, Sharaf said police officers accused of shooting protesters during the 18-day revolution will be fired in response to demands raised by people in nationwide protests on Friday. Many are now taking part in open-ended sit-ins until the demands are met.
The police protesters said they support the 25 January revolution and the punishment of those responsible for killing protesters as long as it legal.
“Whoever is found guilty of killing revolutionaries has to be severely punished," said Rashad, "but any decision taken has to comply with the law.”
“People should show some sympathy with the low-ranking officers who were only obeying orders,” said police protester Mohamed Bassem.
With a sign reading “We want retribution from those who killed police officers," they defended officers who protected police stations and the Interior Ministry against attacks from protesters.
“Snipers were responsible for killing protesters, not police officers,” said an officer from Central Security, the Interior Ministry's crowd control force, who refused to provide his name.
“I was among the forces in Tahrir and I did not carry any live ammunition,” he said.
Shortly after the officers ended their meeting with Essawy, the minister stated that he will not implement any decision regarding the officers accused of killing protesters except according to the law, adding that Sharaf doesn’t have the jurisdiction to make any decision about these policemen.
According to official reports 846 died and more than 6000 were injured during the 18-day uprising that forced former President Hosni Mubarak to resign, while local rights groups estimate the number of people killed at about 1500.
