Leading figures from the Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party slammed the Interior Ministry on Monday, accusing the ministry of bearing responsibility for the torture and death of protesters.
Opposition figures, meanwhile, have blamed President Mohamed Morsy for the deaths of at least 57 protesters in clashes that broke out nationwide on 25 January. They accuse the Morsy administration of resorting to the collapsed regime's methods of suppressing demonstrations with brutal violence.
Yasser Hamza, a member of the Brotherhood's legal committee, said the interior minister is responsible for the torture and death of activist Mohamed al-Gendy, a member of the Popular Current who was kidnapped from Tahrir Square on 28 January and fatally assaulted. The minister is also to blame for the stripping and beating of Hamada Saber by Central Security Forces in front of the Ettehadiya Presidential Palace on Friday, he asserted.
"Morsy bears no responsibility in cases of torture and killing of demonstrators according to the new Constitution,” Hamza said, explaining that the Constitution stipulates that the Cabinet is responsible for domestic matters, while the president only bears responsibility for foreign affairs.
“We cannot compare Morsy to Mubarak,” Hamza continued. “Mubarak bears responsibility for what happened over 30 years, while Morsy did not complete seven months [in office].”
Essam al-Erian, vice president of the Freedom and Justice Party, also held the police responsible for the two incidents, and called on the Interior Ministry to conduct internal investigations.
“Reforming the police force is still an objective of the revolution,” he tweeted on Monday. “Egypt is in dire need for security, but not at the expense of the freedom and dignity of citizens.”
Morsy met with police chiefs on Monday and stressed the importance of respecting the law and human rights norms when protecting public property and safeguarding peaceful demonstrations, said a statement issued by the president's office.
Gendy's funeral was held in Tanta today. Local residents refused to allow the governor to attend, accusing him of being a Brotherhood agent.
Public Prosecutor Talaat Abdallah allowed members of the National Council for Human Rights and the Freedoms Commission of the Lawyers Syndicate to visit Saber in the Police Hospital before he is discharged.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
