Mohamed el-Gindy

Mohamed el – Gindy, 28, was an active participant of the violent protests around Tahir Square, Cairo. During a television interview he even mentioned the possibility of backlash in case new Islamist government tries to recreate the Egyptian police state.

Mr. Gindy’s Twitter message, directed to President Mohamed Morsi, saying “We cannot be threatened, mama’s boy,” appeared to be fatal for the Egyptian activist. A few hours late, Mr. Gindy was found in the street heavily injured, bleeding from the head. He died in the hospital after four days.  

Three months have past since the death of Mohamed el – Gindy, and this case still leaves many questions unanswered. The accusations of police brutality, political retaliation and a collaboration between new Islamist leaders and the same security forces that once jailed and beat them remain to be main objectives.

Human rights groups and the political opposition have already started to warn people about a turn back to authoritarianism. The precedents of cruel treatment of civilians had taken place even before in Egypt. During January’s protests dozens of civilians were captured by security police and held for days at police camps, which are known for the abuse of prisoners under former President Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian police continues to use the same tacticts. Karim Ennarah, a researcher for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said that approximately ten suspects died in police custody, including three who died under torture, during the six-month period last year.

Even though the main cause of Mr. Ginfy’s death is still unclear, the tendency of suppression opposiotional ideas and movements by the Egyptian government is obvious. During the tearful interview of Mr. Gindy’s mother, she said “I voted for them, is this the reward? For them to kill my son?”  

Despite the empirical evidence that Mr. Gindy did not die from a car accident, the interior minister tries to prove the opposite. On questions about police reforms, President Morsi gave the following answer: “Give it trust and you will see good things. God willing.”

The main question still remains the same – is Egypt moving towards democratic state, where people will not get killed because of their opinions?!