Egypt

Update: President orders investigation into Gendy’s death as funeral heads to Tahrir

The president's office released a statement saying it was contacting the Public Prosecution to investigate Mohamed al-Gendy's death, in response to allegations from the Popular Current that he was tortured inside Gebel Ahmar, a Central Security Forces camp.

The statement, published on Facebook, said, "There is no going back to violating the rights of citizens and their public and private freedoms after the glorious 25 January revolution."

Popular committees had secured entrances to Tahrir Square to prepare for funerals for Gendy and Amr Saad, shutting down all entrances to traffic except for the one by Omar Makram Mosque, while a mass march that included former presidential candidate and Popular Current leader Hamdeen Sabbahi and political activist Mamdouh Hamza left carrying both bodies from Zinhom Morgue near Sayeda Zeinab to Tahrir Square.

Saad died Sunday evening after being shot during clashes in front of Ettehadiya Palace Friday, while Gendy died in the hospital Monday morning after disappearing on 28 January from Tahrir Square. The hospital said he had been in a car accident, but a human rights lawyer said that he had clear torture marks on his body and accused the hospital of changing Gendy's arrival date to cover up his kidnapping.

Aside from Sabbahi and Hamza, the marches also included many friends and family members of Saad and Gendy.

Gendy's sister expressed her gratitude to everyone who prayed for her brother in front of the morgue, saying he is now in a better place. She asked them to pray for God to give her mother peace after losing her son, and demanded justice for the police officer who killed Gendy.

Traffic was blocked on the Corniche road in front of Semiramis and Shepherd Hotels after clashes once again started between protesters and police officers.

Protesters threw stones at the forces, while masked assailants threw Molotov cocktails. The police forces then fired tear gas before chasing and arresting some of the protesters.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Related Articles

Back to top button