Statements were given on Sunday by the families of two killed in clashes this month between police and residents of the Meet Ghamr district, Cairo, according to the victims’ lawyer, Reda Marâei.
Investigations started following a report filed by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) to the public prosecutor, accusing the officers in the Meet Ghamr police department of two murders and an attempted murder, according to Marâei.
âAtef Al-Mansyâs wife accused the police officers Mahmoud Al-Gamal Mahdi and Karim Al-Borâei of torturing Al-Mansy to death,â Marâei told the Daily News Egypt, adding witness statements were also heard.
The prosecution also called for the attendance of Ramy Mohamed, injured in the clashes, yet the emergency hospital where Mohamed is staying said his condition did not allow him to appear, according to Marâei. Mohamed was shot in the throat during the incident.
âHeâs considered both a victim and a witness to Al-Sayed Al-Adelâs death, as soon as he gets better, he shall be in the prosecution to testifyâ Marâei said. Al-Adel is the third victim, allegedly shot dead by the police.
Residents of Meet Ghamr are gathering signatures for a petition demanding the arrest of the police officers, especially Karim Al-Borâei, threatening further escalation of protests if their demands arenât met, according to Marâei.
On Friday, a protest involving almost 5000 residents was held in Meet Ghamr. âThe police used teargas to disperse the protester, yet it only managed to increase their number,â Mahmoud Nasser, founding-member of Al-Dostour party, which is involved in the Meet Ghamr protest, said.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released a statement on Thursday accusing the officers in the Meet Ghamr police department of torturing and killing citizens on Sunday 16 September and Monday 17 September.
According to EIPRâs statement, the police raided a number of oriental cafes, beating their clients up and arresting some. The residents then rallied in front of the Meet Ghamr police station, denouncing the raid. The mother of Mohamed Abdel Latif, one cafĂŠ owner, was escorted by Al-Mansy to the station.
âHe was taken in by the police forces who tortured him to death,â Marâei said, mentioning that Al-Mansyâs body was void of any gun wounds.
Al-Mansy was still alive when he came out of the station, though unconscious. He died on his way to hospital. Following Al-Mansyâs death, clashes erupted in front of the station, some police officers, including Karim Al-Borâei, Mahmoud Al-Gamal, Ahmad Farid and two other officers known to the witnesses as Karim and Mahdi, fired gunshots into the air before aiming at the protesters. They killed Al-Adel and gravely injured Mohamed.
The EIPR criticised the Ministry of Interior for saying the Meet Ghamr police department had arrested seven convicts with criminal records, and their families and associates attacked the department in an attempt to free them.
According to Marâei, one witness who testified on Sunday, Atef Abu Trad, stated to the prosecution that he was in the police department last Sunday night when he saw two of the seven convicts the Ministry had claimed to have arrested leaving the department with the ministryâs approval.
Marâei said, âhe mentioned in his testimony that the families did not attempt to release any detainees.” Abu Trad, is also a member of the Freedom and Justice party in Meet Ghamr.