Once noted for its security, Egypt is now suffering from some of the same problems as other countries, writes Nada Barakat After recent reports of armed robberies, kidnappings and carjackings in Egypt, a growing sense of insecurity has made people start to search for new ways to secure themselves, their families and their belongings, in stark contrast to traditional views of Egypt as a haven of security. Such feelings of insecurity are on the rise, something explained by Mahmoud El-Hadidi, a lecturer in psychiatry at Ain Shams University in Cairo, by the rise in reports of crime in Egypt and an overestimation by those reading or seeing these that such crimes could befall them too. Such feelings have risen since last year's January Revolution, El-Hadidi says, because of the frequent road blocks, lay-offs and even insecurity about food and fuel that have come in its wake. Those witnessing such things are likely to suffer from stress and insecurity when planning their daily routines, he says. Fifty-two-year-old Samia El-Sayed has become used to such feelings since last year's revolution. After having been attacked on a microbus in Imbaba in Cairo, al-Sayed has developed an anxiety about using public transport. "No one dared face the thugs, as they were armed, and later I took my 16-year-old daughter out of school because I was afraid about her going about on her own, what with the reports of rape and kidnapping," she says. It seems that many criminals have become more brazen in their acts, with the latest victim being presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, whose car was attacked on his way back from Menoufiya governorate at 11pm, according to Mahmoud Abdel-Meguid, a member of the campaign team. According to Abdel-Meguid, another car crossed in front of Abul-Fotouh's car, forcing it to stop, and three masked men carrying automatic weapons then jumped out and attacked Abul-Fotouh's driver. When Abul-Fotouh tried to intervene, the men attacked him too, beating him with the back of a gun. Abul-Fotouh had to spend a night in hospital, where he was monitored for concussion. In the light of such reports, some have started to carry weapons for self-defence, like 25-year-old Mena Hussein, who carries a tool that delivers electric shocks. "I have not faced threats myself, but I have heard of many incidents of muggings and kidnappings, so I have had to find a way to decrease my fear by acting to defend myself," she says. According to El-Hadidi, individuals who react to perceived threats in this way can often face dangers better than those who deny that there are risks to face. They may also be able to cope with feelings of guilt or inadequacy if they are the victims of an attack. Resistance and fast reactions saved Mariam Tarek from a gang of carjackers in New Cairo recently, when she was followed by a car that bumped into her several times and then tried to force her to stop. However, Tarek reacted by speeding away and refusing to stop, even though she was followed by the gang along the desert road until she reached the safety of Heliopolis. Cairo resident Yasmine Taher suffered a similar incident a few weeks ago in the Sheikh Zayed district when a car bumped into her several times and tried to stop her. Speaking to her father on the phone, he told her to drive away as fast as possible, and Taher's chase also ended when she eventually reached an inhabited area. According to security specialist Ashraf Amin, there have been problems with increased criminality recently, but he says the problems should not be exaggerated. "The criminals choose their victims carefully, and I advise people to limit their exposure to danger by not carrying expensive mobiles, jewellery, or cash. They should avoid uninhabited districts, especially at night, and they should keep an eye out for their surroundings," he says. If an individual is unlucky enough to be attacked, Amin says that he or she should carefully evaluate the situation before deciding on the best strategy to follow. The present limited police presence is due to the sudden change of police fortunes after the revolution, he adds, though their presence is now increasing. Many political activists have claimed that one of the achievements of the Revolution was that it "broke the fear barrier." However, "they should look at it from another angle," Amin says. "The Revolution has meant that criminals no longer have a fear barrier either, and this could be the worst single aspect of it." Recent incidents highlighted in the media have included a woman killed in Sphinx Square in broad daylight, or bank robberies and the kidnapping of the grandchildren of businessman Ismail Osman. Amin says that the chances of individuals facing similar incidents are very small, since those reported by the media were mostly aimed at targeted people, either because of some pre-existing feud or because those concerned were in the public eye. Concerning the relationship between the police and the public since the revolution, Amin says that many policemen have found it difficult to give up the authority that comes with their job in the new circumstances. Any policemen who do not respect the law, or abuse their positions for personal gain, should be severely disciplined, he adds. In the past, some members of the police have acted wrongly, but the main thing is to try to see the bigger picture, Amin says. The police are there to ensure security, and this requires efforts from both the police and the public if it is to succeed. The public needs to support the police, especially in the light of Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim's announcement that the police will now be back on the streets acting against the new breed of criminals.
