Egypt prepares for Eid al-Adha with strong safety measures

CAIRO - 27 August 2017: On the occasion of Eid al-Adha celebrations, the Ministry of Interior prepared all services and security amenities to be available for the people uninterruptedly, according to a security source in the Interior Ministry.

All security officers’ holidays are cancelled till the end of Eid al-Adha, upon the directions of Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar, the source added.

All the security and services departments have made necessary arrangements to make Eid celebrations safe and joyous for all Egyptians.

Earlier, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with the Prime Minister and a number of ministers to discuss the preparations of the Cabinet for Eid Al-Adha.

The Ministry confirmed the importance of intensifying the presence of security forces around public areas such as public parks, cinemas and famous commercial centers to be able to deal immediately and decisively with any attempt to disturb the celebrations of citizens.

Abdel-Ghaffar also called for intensifying security presence in all vital and important installations and foreign embassies in the country and doubling patrols and security.

He also ordered security officers to spread intensively in all parks and to take strict measures against offenders. In addition, he called on them to deal firmly with crimes of sexual harassment, female abuse, theft, or any practices of public immorality.

The security forces will work on controlling all means of transportation and setting up traffic services to prevent traffic jams or road accidents. Abdel-Ghaffar said the security forces are very keen on applying the security plans with the utmost decisiveness and a zero tolerance policy with anyone who attempts to break the rules, to ensure people’s safety.

Eid al-Adha, or the Grand Feast, is one of the two most important religious holidays observed by Muslims worldwide.

Eid al-Adha, which lasts for four days, honors the willingness of the Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his first-born son, Ismail, as an act of submission to God’s command.