Egypt’s Interior Ministry apologized after beating, stripping protester
By Mourad Anouar
Morocco News Tribune
Oklahoma City, U.S.A–Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt’s interior minister, in a rare move in the country’s history, apologized on Saturday after a video tape showed a man stripped naked and beaten by security forces during clashes in front the presidential palace.
The ministry described in a press statement the incident as an “individual act that does not represent police or security forces on the whole.”
Ibrahim, recently appointed as interior minister, said on T.V that he opened a probe into the incident and that it will be transferred to the public prosecution to hold those responsible to account.
“Speaking to local news media on Saturday, the interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, said that after Mr. Saber was released from the hospital, he would invite him to the ministry’s offices to offer his apologies.” New York Times reported.
“Egypt’s interior minister, Mohamed Ibrahim, said Saturday he is ready to leave his position if that is what the people want”, according to Ahram online English.
Ahram Arabic news website, on the other hand, reported that Hamada Saber, the man who was dragged and beaten by Central Security Forces, told prosecutors on Saturday that protesters and not security forces “initiated” the assault against him.
The stripping and beating of the protester Hamada Saber by security forces was captured by Al-Hayat satellite channel TV cameras. The disturbing video caused waves of uproar domestically and overseas.
Hisham Qandil, Egyptian Prime Minister, on televised speech Saturday morning admitted the government’s shortcomings in responding to protesters’ demands. He also blamed the other political forces for failure to accommodate the demands of the youth.
