(AFP File Photo)
A man suspected of robbery was allegedly tortured to death during interrogation at the Al-Darb Al-Ahmar police station.
The public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the case. An autopsy report said that the victim suffered bruises on his hands and was severely bleeding from his knees.
A police officer in the station who asked to remain anonymous said the victim died on Sunday, alleging that the victim was suffering from a preexisting heart condition. When asked about accusations of torture, he said that they would not comment on the matter until a full autopsy is released.
No information was available at the Ministry of Interior’s media centre. Hany Abdel Latif, head of the ministry’s media centre, said, “they have not heard at all about the incident” but are “glad to hear that the public prosecutor is doing his job.”
The El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence confirmed reports of the incident and is currently attempting to contact the family of the victim.
The news raises concern over the treatment of the Ministry of Interior toward detainees, an issue that had sparked mass protests on 25 January, 2011 – Police Day – after the case of Khaled Said triggered widespread contempt against the police.
Many political parties and activists have been urging for the restructuring of the Ministry of Interior since the 2011 uprising. Ahmed Yousry of the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre commented that this call has fallen on deaf ears till today.
“The Ministry of Interior is still the same as in the time of [former president] Mubarak, it has not changed its tools, practices and structure,” Yousry said.
