CAIRO: In an unprecedented incident, an Egyptian policeman has been suspended for growing his beard in violation of regulation, the ministry of interior confirmed to Bikyamasr.com on Tuesday. The Security Directorate of al-Sharqiyah Directorate issued a decree on Monday to suspend Policeman Mohamed El-Sayyed for one month and he will also face questioning over his beard. Sayyed considered the decision arbitrary, stressing his commitment to his constitutional and legitimate right in growing his beard, especially since it did not violate any of the rules and regulations of the Police Act in particular, “because there is no explicit provision criminalizing growing beards,” according to remarks he made to reporters following the announcement of the decision. He said he was never blamed for negligence during the period of his service at the Security Directorate, and that he was “honored more than once for his performance.” A security source told local newspapers that El-Sayyed was not the first policeman to be transferred to another office, or suspended, for similar “violations.” The state-run MENA news agency reported on Monday that Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim warned during a visit to Assiut that policemen who insisted on growing their beards would be suspended and may also be subjected to disciplinary action, stressing that his decision is “irrevocable.” The minister of interior pointed out that the Police Act requires all members of the police apparatus to abide by the “good appearance,” which he said includes shaving their beards and hair, “which was mentioned in all the textbooks of the police academy.” His statements came in response to a Facebook page recently created by a policeman who posted his picture with a long beard, calling on his fellow officers to take this “daring decision and grow their beards.” Prominent ultra-conservative Salafist Sheikh Mohammed Hassan and the Spokesman of the Salafist al-Nour Party Nader Bakar both declared their support to police officers who desire to grow their beards, saying that the “Ministry of Interior has no right to suspend them from work.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/IUFaL Tags: Beard, featured, Police, Suspended Section: Egypt, Latest News, Religion
