Children witness Egyptian police 'execute' their activist father

In another shocking case of violence and abuse by Egyptian security forces, an activist was reportedly murdered at his family home by police in front of horrified children.

MENA

1 min read

Mohammad Mohsen

17 March, 2015

Police have a fearsome reputation in Egypt [AFP]

Egyptian police have been accused of executing an anti-coup activist in Alexandria in front of his children.

The Arab Centre of Human Rights (ACHR) say that officers stormed the home of Ahmad Gabr on Tuesday morning, and shot dead the engineer while his family were present.

His is wife was then arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.

Gabr and his doctor wife were said to be "anti-coup" activists who had protested against "military rule" in Egypt.

The couple had also campaigned for the release of political detainees, which led to them fleeing their home in west Alexandria, after being subjected to continued "police harassment".

The human rights group hold the new interior minister, Magdi Abd al-Ghaffar, responsible for the "deliberate killing" of the activist.

Human rights groups say that the Egyptian government has constantly abused their power against all forms of political dissent.

On 9 March, police allegedly killed an Egyptian man in Nahia village, Giza province, in a similar execution-style.

The Arab African Centre for Human Rights and other international human rights organisations have all called for the release of political prisoners, including hundreds being held on death row.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.