To the Minister of the Interior ..
We are ashamed
Yes, we are actually ashamed.
We appreciated you, but you did not , we respected you, but you did not, we believed in you, but you lied to us.
 Because we stand in your camp, we are facing together enemies shots, and smelling the smoke together, in the same trench face "enemies of the homeland” , but you didn’t treat us as we deserve .

We are ashamed, but we do not refund the spontaneous usual “verbal”  response that is said in such cases, “Shame on you" because we do not accept you this to you. And we don’t accept this for our dear country.

On 11/10/2014 at exactly half past nine in the morning , I went to my family village "KFOR Bellshay" in Kafr El Zayat City, my destination was to "Cairo Bank" in Al Mahata square . I hired "tuk tuk" , the famous popular transportation in Egypt now , which has become an indispensable for simple poor class .

Before reaching the bank, I asked the driver to stop to have a walk in Al Bahr st, and to take some pictures of the Nile and some historic buildings of the city to add them to my archive, which has no enough photos of my city "Kafr El Zayat," I can not find appropriate images when there are some news about it. Even search engine "Google" is devoid of these images.

During taking these photos, I was surprised a group of "people" around me asking what I’m doing. And why I’m taking pictures? I shew them my identity, the membership of the "Union of Journalists" card,  and the "Writers Union," and I thought that it was done.
......
But what happened is that I underwent to further inquiries and questioning glances. And quickly I was surrounded by more people as if I were a criminal that police succeeded in arresting him before executing the attack.

Between them, there was a familiar person , and I quickly knew him , he was the head of the city council, I was informed that he was in his morning round with the staff of the council, and my bad luck put me in his way .

I introduced myself to the head of the City Council , and he looked at my cards again. I expected that it’s done. But an employee of the security council accompanied by his boss wanted to show his efficiency, so he contacted the police station and tell them about the matter. He asked me to wait, because they also said that they are "investigating Me", and started dictating the person who he spoke with on the cell phone, telling him my identification .. and quickly he looked around and found a young man standing on the Corniche , he ordered to bring him and questioned him, he asked the young man, as if he were "Sherlock Holmes," about if we were together. And quickly he had him too beside me , feeling like he has arrested a terrorist organization grabbed the gunman targeted the country's security.


Although i was so annoyed from what happened, I told them that I appreciate their efforts to keep security, and happy that the security authorities are so awake. I was surprised to hear a voice and someone raising his hand proudly said : “ i called the police” .  I looked at him and i think he was a waiter of the near cafe . He was exactly like the famous dramatic character that appears in the TV series, an old man wearing glasses, interfering in almost everything.

At that time, I remembered the famous actor Zaki Rostom when he was shot by his friend, he said his famous statement “good shoot”.

I also remembered the report published by the French news agency” AFP " last week entitled "in public places in Egypt .. Opposed voices speak in whispers," which referred to the phenomenon of  the growing snitching in Egyptian society, which has stepped up under the pretext of combating terrorism, where some of the some public volunteer to be mentors to the police, anyone can report any person even for a trivial reason, or just because he expressed “opposing” opinion in the bus, or the street, which is a serious indicator that we hope it does not indicate the decline in freedoms in Egypt.

After a while, a short man came from the police station, dressed in civilian clothes, and a looked at the cards that shew before , which indicate that I work as "press" and "Starter". For the second time I thought that when he sees the practical nature of the press he will set me free and apologizes, but he asked me to accompany him to the nearby police station. I told them - in spite of my increasing anger- that "I appreciate the security procedures .. but it's not a big deal" . In the end I had to go with them.

On the third floor of the police station, I was set with the young man who was brought with me, in the "Investigation of public crimes." In the room, there were two of the censors, or Trustees of the police I do not know, one with a mustache, and the other without, and it was clear that they didn’t go to university .. on the wall there was a large banner with pictures of the accused, and under each is written the charge perpetrated by name, I glimpsed quickly The Portrait of a Lady and below is written her charge "murder", I said, "God forbid."

After a while came the short man who took us to the police station. He asked us to shut down our cell phones. I pretended that i did, but actually I called my brother to tell him what happened to me and where I exactly I was. I didn’t know what may happen. But the short man saw me speaking in the phone and said in a sharp accent “ I said no phones” .

Last time I entered "Kafr El Zayat police station" was 25 years ago, when I was a student in high school. And practicing journalism as a hobby, and then my bicycle was stolen and I reported at the police station, and waited in vain, I wrote a small story in the newspaper called "political", which was issued by the House of cooperation, my story was titled "stealing bikes and cars in Kafr El Zayat" ..few days after I was surprised by an officer came to our house and says that the head of the detective wants me.

Of course this raised the concern of everyone. So what may the head of the detectives wants of their son .. And I was asked numerous questions .. What did you do?. And began to traditional telecommunications to find out why.

I went that day to Kafr El Zayat police station, and noted that the police station was full of different kinds of bikes .. the day I met Colonel Jalal who blamed me for writing in newspapers about my "bike ", and for not waiting , and told me that they brought my bike back .

I remember that day , a nice misunderstanding between me and the officer, who was sitting in front of Colonel office. While trying to reconcile with them I said "metaphor" .. he angrily corrected me by "felony" ..again I said .. "metaphor", he contained more angry "felony".

Back to the present time, the man "with a mustache" sitting on a desk in the right, told us that it is simple, and nothing on us, and they're just waiting to attend "the officer" to ask you few questions, ..we waited four hours , and every time we asked , they answered that they are waiting for "the officer ...." ..  after repeating the question for more than once, we were told that the officers were on a mission last night, I learned that it was the follow-up incident of a train caught in fire in city rail station .

Although I was so annoyed, but it was a chance to see myself what really happens in police stations. As a journalist, it’s not enough to watch tv, read newspapers, or get reports. The real journalist needs to get a first hand experience, even if it is a painful one.

The journalist’s brain is not like any other brain, it acts as a pen, camera, data analysis device, and a very sensor radar. So , we can present truth in a form of press or any creative work .

We asked the permission of the other person in the room to make some calls, and we were allowed to . The young man with me - as i knew owns a shop in the city market - was in a harry to call some of his acquaintances. Rescuers attended to pick us, the two officers assured that it was ok but we have to wait for the presence of the sleeping officer.

We waited for along time before another officer called “......” came. I introduced my self again showing my ids, and i told again - in spite of my great anger - that I appreciate the security measures, and efforts in this regard. I was expecting for the third time that the officer understands it, understands the nature of my work, "the press" .. and even apologizes for arresting me in such way, but the response was poor. Not only that, but he also addressed me as if I were a criminal, and he asked me “where is your passport?,” And when I entered the country ?, and asked me to leave the camera with him, not only that, but also leave the papers were in the pocket camera. One  includes my trip in Egypt, and the second includes a list of books my wife asked me to buy from "Faggala” .

I tried to keep my camera, but “..... Bay” told me that they must check it. I understood then that we are officially arrested , and there must be a report about the incident. I do not know this officer, and I had no right to abuse him, but I think that "he resemble that Character" of The police officer who uses force against the accused or suspected to force them to admit .. Done.

That was the most difficult position in this comic situation, because it’s hard to take a camera from a journalist, it seems like taking the police gun .....


After that , the situation took another turn. Their intention has emerged, a report on the incident edited, and turn us into "the prosecution." At this moment, a lot of questions started in my head:

Are the police officers “Free” to such a degree .. to concern themselves and operates other state bodies of officers, investigators, and prosecutors for such trivial thing .. If this happens to one of the supporters of the regime, the government and President al-Sisi, or a defender for the army and police in their continuing war against terrorism. Or any one who fights enemies of the nation  day and night on all fronts. All of the mentioned believe in important role of the media in this battle. the Question now .. What happens to the opponents of the regime?

It's like someone standing beside you in the "big fight" , and receives blows on your behalf .. And suddenly you stab him in back , I remembered a friend saying "the system loses its supporters."

Is photography a crime ..?, I have practiced photography and according to my work in several places in the world in Paris, Austria and Malaysia .. etc .. I’ve even filmed in sensitive places the tense like Lebanon at the height of sectarian tension and terrorist , and no one stopped me  .., before that by a week, I took some photos in the holiest and most important spot in the world Haram .. And no one stopped me one, even filmed in Egypt for 20 years and and no one stopped me .. but after two revolutions, I’ve been prevented from filming not only that, but I was taken to the police station, as if I were a criminal.

If photography in public places is considered a crime, what to do with tourists who are visiting our country, and we hope to increase their numbers to back the spirit of tourism? Are we going to arrest any tourist carrying a camera? .., Or lets be honest, and add to the tourism program " a Week in prison for shooting"?

In the new era of technology and open space, there is no meaning for the phrase "photography is prohibited" wherever, anyone can by "Google Earth" shoot any spot on earth.

I heard a lot about the "persecution" of police against reporters, and they arrested some of them while practicing their journalistic work. And I was defending in the favor of the police, and I rejected that claim. But what I faced so far does not confirm the "persecution", but at least it confirms that the Interior Ministry was not interested in the reporter, nor his role, And treated them like a "thief ".

We are ready to bear this in the favor of the security measures. The matter is Like to wait for a longer time in front of checkpoints. But it will be different in case of deviating our rights as human beings .. not at all .. and photography in public places is a human right.

Waiting to know my situation after the bad receiving of Hadi Bay, I asked to go to the bathroom . Some one took me to the bathroom door, and waited me outside. Then I was sure that I was already in custody. More precisely, "Suspended". And colloquially "Arrested." so, I went back to my place in the cell .. I mean the room.
......
New situation became clearer later, when one of the staff wanted to get out of the room , he brought people "guard" holds a gun, and seated him in his place , then I understood that he commanded to keep us in custody and do not let us out of the room. So I realized that the matter is not easy, and I’m already “arrested” for the first time in my life.

Surrendered to my fate I tried to be patient and get ready for information that are waiting for me, and learn more about the fact that I do not know about Egypt, though I started to worry, Not for nothing. But because I was traveling on the following day. And if they decide to “make a problem”, I would not travel and it would a problem.

When I saw a large number of rescuers who came to the brother sitting next to me. I was hit by jealousy. Decided for the first time, "to call a friend," according to the program "Who Wants Million" .. and I called my brother and asked him to talk my neighbor former official in the city. Also contacted my friend, the poet and critic, Dr. Ahmed Mansour. Once aware of the subject. He Interrupted, saying "as long as the matter like that .. I'll come to you immediately."
.....
My friend Ahmed Mansour angry and sad .. soothed and come, and the same happens .. so that I pitied him .. and I told him, "Hun you my friend .. this valuable opportunity to know the reality in my country."

My friend Ahmed Mansour was very angry and sad, and talking to himself in furious .. so that I pitied him .. and I told him, "take it easy you my friend .. this valuable opportunity to know the reality in my country."

Mansour asked me to accompany him to the deputy sheriff, but the guard refused, he carries an automatic weapon. my friend Shouted, "This is a public figure" But useless .., I looked at the gun ..it is the same weapon that we use it 20 years ago in Sidi Barrani during our national recruitment .. I remembered my first day in the battalion. We went out to train on firing .. I remembered how I achieved the first position, and how the commander awarded me. He said for the all soldiers in pride: "Look Newcomer soldier is the first " ..

 And when he asked the guard to pick us bailiffs, again he refused. Mansour asked sharply .. "Is he under arrest?", He told him the other employee, "the man with the mustache" who was busy in writing something like a "record" , he answered stubbornly.. "Yes, under arrest."
....
Quickly my friend Mansour came down to deputy sheriff, and I told him that I’m a journalist, and I practice my profession, his response was, as I was told his answer was a "negative" one, then my friend called the Sherif who was on vacation, and told him the story, he asked him to go to the deputy sheriff again .. my friend carried it, without knowing what happened between the sheriff and his deputy.
.....

Time passed so slowly, and nothing happened .. .. my friend Mansour went sad for what happened to me even more and more, he went to the window and called for the third time the Sherif, told him they would make a report  and it will be briefed on "national security".
......
After a few minutes, captain Mohammed attended, of "national security", and quickly gave us our papers. and released us, while another officer brought me my camera and the papers, and told us .. "When you want to take photos, you need to Get a permission."
I wanted to ask “how can I get that permission? “,  but I didn’t want to make him angry, since   there is no law prohibiting photography in public places.

All have different interfering questions, some one asks me “Are you from here? “. Other says “ people should sue you” , another one asks me about a meaning of a phrase written on the papers that were consfiscated from me.

The question now .. What happens if I'm not a journalist? What happens if the sheriff did not understand it and convinced the words of my friend already that I’m a "public figure" ?, and did he wants, ".... Bey" and "deputy sheriff" who said to my friend, citing "there were banks and ... "? And what about citizens who come through the same experience every day in the extended governorates of Egypt? .. and what does it mean the " horror "that the seller had who was with me, that asked the help of dozens to save him?
.....
Dear Ministry of Interior  ..
  Despite what happened .. We are with you, because you are in fact the protectors of the home .. We are not counting some error here Or there .. because the errors of some individuals,  or even groups, can not be generalized on everyone.
We are with you, with your achievements and your mistakes .. The country is almost on war on more than one front, we can not just blame you for long time. The Home security is not an easy matter . Home land is a whole life , full of joy, and noble sadness. So all of us will work to reform our country.

As the pop singer Munir says in a song “ I swear to change and change till it be the best” >
And Despite the pain .. We are with you, with all the officers and soldiers belonging to the police , fighting a holy war to protect the homeland, .. but between you and me , i dtill feel ashamed .

Origin version to the Office of the Minister of the Interior .. with the greeting.

Copy for the Office of the President of the Republic .. with the greeting.

Copy for the office of Al Gharbya security manager. .. With the greeting.

Copy for the Office of the Spokesman Major General Interior Ministry .. with the greeting.

Copy for the Chairman of Press Syndicate . .. With the greeting.

Copy for my fellow the head of writers union .. with the greeting.