The Asyut branch of Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya—an Islamist movement known as a terrorist group in Europe and the United States—called for the creation of popular committees to perform policing tasks, following recent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in many Egyptian provinces.

The demonstrators were protesting against the policies of President Mohamed Morsi amid a wave of discontentment within the police ranks and growing demands to keep the security forces away from political struggles.

The Asyut branch of Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya—an Islamist movement known as a terrorist group in Europe and the United States—called for the creation of popular committees to perform policing tasks, following recent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in many Egyptian provinces.

The demonstrators were protesting against the policies of President Mohamed Morsi amid a wave of discontentment within the police ranks and growing demands to keep the security forces away from political struggles.

The people of Asyut voiced fears of a lack of law and order because of armed militias, particularly after the Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya’s show of force through a parade across the province’s streets to affirm its ability to replace the police.

It is known that Copts constitute a considerable percentage of the population of Asyut compared to other provinces in southern Egypt, in addition to the fact that many civil society groups reject such an initiative.

Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya officer Sheikh Tarek Badir is the man behind the initiative.

Sheikh Tarek Badir, why did you launch this initiative at this particular time?

Firstly, it was a spur-of-the-moment call after the police officers and their supervisors at Asyut’s First Precinct closed their station followed by closing the doors at Fatah Police Station. Thanks to its awareness of the importance of security and its appreciation of the dangers of the lack of law and order, Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya took this step to prevent disorder and chaos. The action or rather the inaction of the police was the last nail in the coffin of society as an orderly and disciplined entity. We decided that if the security forces failed to resume their fragile tasks, even if we accepted that before, we will take action and guard our country with whatever modest resources we have.

What is the purpose of this initiative?

Bridging the gap resulted when the police abandoned their duties. We wanted to reassure the community that we will not abandon them and that we will protect their properties as well as families. The call to protect public facilities was an outcry against thoughtlessness and irresponsibility towards the state and society. How can a police officer sleep in his home comfortably and securely while leaving banks and families at danger?

Were there any serious steps taken to implement the initiative and could any institution replace it?

Yes, we marched through the city streets, we stood in public squares, we spoke with people and we told them that we are with the police and with the community and even if the police abandoned them, we will not do the same. As for the second part of your question, the police force is a renowned, deeply-rooted, sophisticated and academic establishment and has always been the main guarantee for law and order and has always produced highly trained and efficient officers ranked amongst the most elite in Africa and Asia. We were forced to go out and perform tasks, which are not ours, due to the fact that the professionals who are supposed to do that were absent. So if there was anyone to blame, it is those who abandoned their duties and forced us to fill-in the gap. Imagine that there was an accident and the ambulance was late; it is the duty of ordinary citizens to help the victim until the ambulance’s arrival. The bottom line is that we should not stand still.

Do you believe the government’s failure to restructure the Interior Ministry is the cause of the country’s insecurity or are there other reasons?

There are of course other reasons. First, the officers are not dealing with the issue of insecurity seriously and everybody knows that. Second, things have not been firmly handled, as the decent were not rewarded while the indecent went unpunished. Third, the police are not sufficiently equipped (in terms of weapons for example) and that should be taken into consideration.

Some believe the initiative is designed to settle old scores with the police given what they did during the 1990s when they detained and tortured many of your people in what was called by the media at the time “the war against terrorism”?

We are not at odds with anyone and we have no problem with any state institution. This is proven by the fact that since the revolution, our group played a constructive and unifying role in the community. Our group became the peacemaker in the community and the events in the 80s and 90s will not be repeated.

Do you believe that it is better to appoint a civilian as an interior minister in order to be able to control the turbulent internal situation?

No, the interior minister should not be a civilian and must be the product of the police establishment. Events have escalated to the current situation because the police officers are not following the orders of their superiors, so how can they approve the appointment of a civilian as their highest authority?

How did the police force respond to your initiative and how did the officials react?

Security forces were very hostile and even blamed us for the current situation while they are the ones to be blamed for such a gap.

If your initiative was not implemented, what weapons would you use to maintain law and order?

We do not have weapons. We only converse with the people to reassure them that do not even carry batons or cudgels. The police did not give us the chance to take any real steps to implement our initiative as police officers went back and reopened the precincts and stations that were closed down.

How do you respond to criticism of different political streams against your initiative?

That criticism was unjustified and I would like to ask them to come up with an alternative to police absenteeism and to put that issue atop their agenda. I would like to ask them, when policemen abandon their duties and leave banks, hospitals, schools and streets to criminals and thugs, what would they do to fill-in that gap? I put forward my vision and they put theirs forward and if their vision is better, I welcome it.

Does your group have tangible plans or proposals to restructure the interior ministry, apart from forming popular committees?

Yes, authorities should look after policemen and their families psychologically, provide them with the necessary weapons and reassure them about their future, in order for policemen to uphold the law evenhandedly. Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya in Cairo has recently launched an initiative to restore the prestige and stature of the police force to ensure that they perform their duties in a civil way to ensure the safety of the new Egyptian society. Lastly, I would like to pose the following question: have you ever heard, whether in ancient or modern history, about police officers who closed down their police stations and precincts with chains and went to their homes to sleep comfortably with their families, leaving the lives and property of citizens at the mercy of outlaws?