Egyptian policeman jailed for refusing duty at Israeli embassy
Police tribunal sentences sergeant in late 30s to six months in jail, with no possibility of appeal.
By ReutersCAIRO - An Egyptian police tribunal on Sunday sentenced a police officer to six months in jail for refusing orders to go on guard duty at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, police sources said.
Mohamed Khalaf Hassan Ibrahim, a sergeant in his late 30s, had been in hospital on hunger strike in protest at his detention, but he was able to attend the court session on Sunday.
The Egyptian police force is run on military lines and, as with military courts run by the armed forces, there is no appeal against the verdicts of the police tribunal.
Egypt in 1979 became the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, but many Egyptians still regard Israel as an enemy because of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a similar case in Britain last year, the police force excused a Muslim firearms office from guard duty at the Israeli embassy. But it said it took the decision because of a possible safety risk and not because of the man's personal views.
Ibrahim's lawyer was not immediately available to explain his client's refusal to protect the Israeli embassy.
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Although it is the right thing to do by the Egyptian Authorities, I applaud the policeman for his principles. Now to the cream of issues of the Egyptian Authorities...How many times do they do the right thing? Almost never. Why jail "extremists" such as brotherhood, and free speakers such as blogger. Doesn't make sense except for pleasing the US and Israel at the same time striking those who question their behavior.
i went to egypt once. i would never go back.
You mean......... Fear of coming closer to 'enemy' because you can easily be labelled as enemy and terrorized? Right. 6 months is much better than be marked as spy and spent life long in. Poor man. Poor human kind where it is heading
Londonistan
The cases are similar, indeed. But the dealing is totally different. Egypt knows no nonsense business. 6 months in jail will surely teach this policeman how to perform his duty. Unfortunately, UK and all the EU countries will never learn and this is why they are doomed. Islam will win over decadent Europe.