CAIRO: The April 6 Movement organized a march today, Friday, from Zeinhom Morguq to Tahrir Square in protest against the killing of 24-year-old Essam Ali Atta. Atta's family and Egyptian activists say he was tortured to death in Tora Prison. Security sources deny the claim. Activists took up Atta's coffin after his family and activists refused to have it placed in the hearse. The march was scheduled to head to the office of Egypt's Public Prosecutor and the Supreme Court to rebuke the incident, demanding punishment of the soldiers who committed the crime. In the same context, the shadow government condemned the incident, adding that it will file a complaint to the Public Prosecutor on Saturday to open an investigation and punish those who committed this crime. The head of the shadow government said Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and Egypt's ruling military council bear responsibility for Atta's death, in addition to Minister of Interior Mansour el-Issawy. In related news, Zeinhom Morgue administration allowed Atta's father and uncle to attend the autopsy to determine the cause of death. Human rights activist Aida Seif el-Dawla said the coroner removed part of Atta's bowels to be sent to a lab for analysis. In Egypt's Mediterranean city of Alexandria, the April 6 Movement performed a funeral prayer in absentia for all victims of torture and the Emergency Law, including Atta and Motaz Anwar, who have been killed by officers of the Interior Ministry. A number of youth and political activists organized a demonstration in front of al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque to express their protest against torturing the prisoners and activists. The demonstration turned to a march and ended in front of Khaled Said's home. Said died in police custody in June 2010. His death is considered one of the catalysts of Egypt's January uprising.
