Who’s really benefiting from Sinai’s state of emergency?
Terrorists are turning the tables and making the most of curfews and restrictions in North Sinai.
Critics say the continued state of emergency in the Sinai Peninsula, designed to protect citizens from terrorist attacks, has turned into a threat to their lives, as terrorists are taking advantage of the situation.
Moreover, security forces’ misuse of the state of emergency and related curfews has increased people’s hostility against the police and army. Citizens say people are being detained without written arrest warrants.
S.H., a resident of Jura village in North Sinai, spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity about the methods terrorists are using to carry out attacks. Restricting citizens’ movements just makes it less complicated for terrorists to set explosives or hit otherwise highly visible targets.
“Terrorist groups are taking advantage of the state of emergency and the fact that there are no citizens in the places they intend to target, which is making their [efforts] to hit their targets easier,” she said.
