An Egyptian court on Sunday released 36 suspects over clashes following the death of a young man at the Moqattam police station in Cairo last month.
Police reportedly arrested dozens of people after protests erupted in front of the police station following the death of Mohamed Abdel Hakim, 22, also known as Afroto.
The suspects were detained pending investigations over unlawful protests and damaging of public and private properties. The suspects appealed the detention order and the South Cairo Court ordered their release.
Afroto, who was being held on suspicion related to a drugs case, died in custody on Friday, January 6. Police claimed his death was a result of an overdose of the drug “Strox,” but his family and relatives accused police officers of torturing him to death.
Clashes broke out between police and hundreds of people at Moqattam police station the following night, and police arrested dozens.
Cairo’s prosecution office has ordered the detention of two police officers, pending investigations into the death of Afroto.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
