Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's Building and Development Party (BDP) and Al-Nour Party have called for the Ministry of the Interior to respect the Administrative Court's decision last week to allow bearded police officers to return to their posts. In a statement on Wednesday the BDP stressed the importance of respecting the court's ruling and demanded that the Interior Ministry allow the bearded officers to return to work. The party added that the officers had gone through the appropriate legal procedures and should be treated like any other Egyptian citizens as per the demands of the 25 January Revolution. “After the final ruling in favour of the bearded police officers, it is expected that the president, as the executive power, is required to implement the provisions of the judiciary,” said Al-Nour Party spokesman Nader Bakkar on his official Facebook page. Dozens of bearded police officers continued a sit-in at the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, demanding the ministry implement the court's ruling. Minor clashes erupted when police attempted to disperse the protesters on Tuesday. “We insist we have the right to peacefully protest,” said Mohamed Hamdy, a member of the bearded officers' group. Hamdy stated that the ministry had told the group that it was awaiting an executive order from the president to implement the decision. The group said it would continue its open-ended sit-in until the ministry adopted measures respecting the judicial ruling and announced plans to demonstrate at the Abdeen presidential palace on Friday. The Interior Ministry said on Wednesday it had not instituted any provisions regarding the bearded police officers, but said it “confirms its full commitment to the implementation of the provisions of the judiciary.” Last week the Administrative Court ruled that bearded police officers could return to their posts, rejecting an appeal by the Interior Ministry. The current regulations at the ministry forbid personnel from growing beards.
