CAIRO: The People's Assembly's legislative committee denounced statements by MP Nashaat El-Qassas calling on security bodies to shoot demonstrators. The legislative committee issued a statement on Wednesday describing El-Qassas' statement as “a violation of the constitution” and “a total disregard for freedom and human rights.” The People's Assembly is scheduled to vote on El-Qassas' punishment in next week's session, which can be as strict as expulsion from the assembly. Parliament speaker Fathi Sorour announced during a meeting with the legislative committee on Wednesday that the committee has reviewed the minutes of the joint session between the human rights and defense and national security committees, confirming El-Qassas' statements. Earlier this month, El-Qassas proposed using violence against protesters, saying “If it were in my hands, I would interrogate the Minister of Interior for his kindness when dealing with those outlaws.” “Shoot them and use the bullets on all the protestors that are breaking the law,” El-Qassas said. “Based on the minutes,” Sorour said, “it was proven that El-Qassas said that demonstrators must be executed … why should we execute them? Are they dogs?” El-Qassas apologized in an official statement, saying that he “didn't mean to incite the police against demonstrators,” explaining that he was only calling for “facing the outlaws.” While some NDP MPs called for the expulsion of El-Qassas, other opposition and Muslim Brotherhood MPs were concerned that it would be a violation of Article 96 of the constitution, restricting MPs' freedom of expression. Zakaria Azmi, chief of the presidential staff and leading member of the NDP, said “El-Qassas made a big mistake … Even if the constitution does not constrict what MPs say inside the parliament, but we as representatives of the people vow to respect the constitution.” Some MPs also called for the punishment of the two other MPs, Ragab Helal Hemeida, member of Al-Ghad Party, and NDP MP Ahmad Abo Aqrab, who seconded El-Qassas' sentiments. However, Sorour refused, saying that according to the minutes, their statements were vague and indirect. A day after the session, some 50 demonstrators condemned the MPs' statements in a demonstration outside the PA, holding up placards reading, “shoot us” accompanied by an image of a target.
