Egyptian court refuses to ban mobile phones in police stations

Cairo: An Egyptian court on Sunday ordered the Ministry of the Interior to comply with an earlier order to allow mobile phones inside police stations.

The Ministry of the Interior had appealed against the order issued in 2009, saying that the gadget disrupts "the flow of work and discipline" inside police stations.

In refusing the appeal, the Administrative Court in Cairo said that banning mobile phones would contradict the constitution and restrict people’s freedom.

"The State should not fear the mobile phone because it is part of high technology, which is among citizens' rights," added the court.

The ruling was upheld days after a young Egyptian was allegedly beaten to death by police for posting on the Internet a clip taken by a mobile camera purportedly showing policemen sharing drugs.

The death of Khaled Saeed, 28, has triggered vociferous anti-police protests in his hometown Alexandria and other areas of Egypt.