( AFP Photo /Stringer)
The funeral of Abdel Azeem, a resident of Mansoura who died after being hit by a Central Security Forces (CSF) vehicle, took place on Saturday. Beginning at the Al-Game’ya Al-Share’ya mosque, the funeral procession moved toward his family’s cemetery, attended by thousands of protesters calling for the resignation of President Mohamed Morsi.
Hossam Abdallah Abdel Azeem, a 35 year old resident of Mansoura, was on his way to visit his wife’s family when a CSF vehicle struck him during clashes between CSF and protesters on Friday night. Abdel Azeem was transferred to Mansoura International hospital, where he died a few hours later. “He was not even protesting, he left home to visit his wife’s family. President Morsi is responsible for the death of my son because he is allowing people to kill each other in the streets,” said Abdallah Abdel Azeem, Abdel Azeem’s father.
Prosecutor General Tala’at Abdallah has ordered an investigation into Abdel Azeem’s death.
Wael Ghaly, a lawyer at the Egyptian Centre for Social and Economic Rights in Mansoura, said the prosecution’s initial incident report stating that Abdel Azeem died from a fractured skull. He added that the forensic authority did not issue a death report as the autopsy has not yet been completed.
Activist and Mansoura resident Mohamed Ezz said that Ibrahim Arafa, a doctor at Mansoura field hospital, told him that two other protesters died on Friday. The doctor said that a 16-year old protester died after a CSF vehicle struck him, while the other died of a gunshot to the head. However, Ezz’s claims could not be confirmed.
Violent clashes broke out between CSF and protesters in Mansoura on Friday, where protesters hurled rocks at CSF, who retaliated with teargas. Abdel Meguid Rashed, coordinator of the Popular Current in Daqahleya, claimed that security forces fired birdshot at protesters, injuring several, and arrested others. He added that teargas bombs were fired at the building housing the Daqahleya offices of the Popular Current and the Social Popular Alliance Party.
Rashed claimed that tens of protesters were injured following the CSF attacks, adding that the protesters were peaceful and did not initially attack CSF. “Ministry of interior forces are assisting Morsi and his Brotherhood in getting rid of all revolutionary and opposition figures, but we will never back down.”
MENA reported that 21 police officers were also injured during the clashes, suffering from fractures, bruises, and birdshot wounds. Two seriously injured police officers were transferred to Maadi military hospital.
Hamdeen Sabahy, founder of the Popular Current, condemned the clashes on his Twitter account on Saturday, describing CSF actions as “a fully fledged crime”.
Revolutionary activist Ahmed Douma posted a Facebook statement on Saturday, stating that attacking peaceful protesters is a crime for which President Mohamed Morsi should be tried.
Al-Dostour Party also condemned the CSF attacks in a statement issued on Saturday.
Additionally, the Black Bloc movement issued a statement on Saturday, announcing that they will go to Mansoura “to protect peaceful protesters and obtain revenge for the martyrs”.
Essam El-Erian, Deputy Head of the Freedom and Justice Party, commented on Friday’s clashes on his Facebook account on Saturday. “We want to save the blood of our youth for future indispensible battles: the battles of development, independence and building a strong Egypt,” said El-Erian.
