Police kill Egyptian farmer, protests follow

CAIRO: A farmer from Ismo el-Aroos village in Deir Mawas in the Minya governorate some 250 miles south of Cairo was killed after two police officers broke into his house some time after midnight on Wednesday under the pretext of searching the home, saying they were looking for an unlicensed weapon. When the farmer objected, a fight arose between him and the officers, which resulted in the death of the farmer.

Police violence and torture in local police stations is considered “systematic” by rights groups who have long documented the violence employed by Egyptian security services in the country.

They have called on the government to implement new procedures and penalties for those who are convicted of abusing prisoners or citizens.

Following the news of the farmer’s death, hundreds of the village residents gathered in the village center and accused the two police officers of being responsible for the killing of the farmer after having kicked him in several sensitive areas of the body. They then held a demonstration against the police in the area, before other police were called in to disburse the spontaneous protest.

Previous information had been received given to the Investigation Center of Deir Mawas about Abdul Mohsen Abdul Mohsen Fathi, 40, the farmer who lives in the village and who was believed to posses an unlicensed weapon. This caused police to investigate.

When police officers raided the house to seize the alleged weapon after midnight, the victim interceded and stood up to them, which resulted in an altercation between the farmer and the two officers, causing the death of the farmer. Early reports indicate he died as a result of the beating the police officers gave him after his refusal to allow them to search his home.

Residents who gathered outside the hospital of Deir Mawas shortly after the victim was transferred there, called for the retribution and the trial of the two officers.