Egyptians unite in silent protest against police brutality and emergency law

The protestors dressed in black stood 5 metres apart to circumvent Egypt ‘s emergency law which stipulates that people are banned to assemble in large numbers. The rally had assembled in protest to the police’s escalating brutality against citizens which has claimed its latest victim Khaled Saed who has come to be a symbol. Coronary reports have claimed that Saed died of asphyxiation however witnesses’ testimonies differ alleging that police viciously beat the 28 year old.  

The social networking site called on people to, congregate in cities around Egypt , and stand silently to protest the government and security apparatus which has come to misuse the dreaded emergency law, which has been in force since 1981 and recently renewed for two years. Egyptians have suffered largely from the continued abuse of ’emergency cy law’ particularly those affiliated with political opposition including members from the Muslim Brotherhood bloc who have faced indefinite detention.

The recent brutality has sparked much criticism worldwide both from governmental and non-governmental organizations calling for investigation and accountability. in fact the European Court of Human Rights recently reiterated the international legal position that in cases of ill-treatment and torture, officers under investigation should normally be suspended during the disciplinary inquiry and dismissed if found responsible for such acts. In fact the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials state that law enforcement officials may only use violent means if unavoidable and must “exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence,” as well as “minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life.” The new report on the so called ’emergency law’s martyr’ has provoked anger as many Egyptians perceive it as an attempt to cover up another instance of police violence.