Democratic Palestine : 14 (ص 29)
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- Democratic Palestine : 14 (ص 29)
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Egyptians protest Khater’s murder
Murderous ‘suicide’
Blind to the hundreds of thousands
who demonstrated and petitioned for
Suleiman’s release, deaf to the calls of
Arab and international democratic and
progressive forces, Mubarak’s hen-
chmen carried out their vile act. In blat-
ant defiance of all logic, the official
coroner's report declared that Suleiman
had committed suicide, despite all the
facts pointing to murder. The idea of
suicide to cover up the crime is totally ©
ludicrous. Not only was Suleiman’s
emotional state indisposed to suicide,
but it was physically impossible that he
hanged himself as the authorities
described, in view of the following facts:
1. The window he was supposed to have
hung himself from was three meters
from the floor. The bars of the window
protruded outwards, while from the
inside, the window was covered with a
metal screen.
2. Eleven guards were assigned to keep
watch on Suleiman on a 24-hour basis.
3. A doctcr present at the pre-funeral
washing of the body noted blood ciots
around the eyes, indicating that he had
been strangled, lying down, with a wire
approximately 3 mm thick. (The regime
prevented an independent autopsy as
was requested by family and friends.}
The same doctor noted cuts and bruises
on the body and the skin under his
fingernails. indicating that he had
resisted.
4. The day before the murder, he had
requested his university textbooks in
order to start studying for exams. He
was moreover optimistic about being
pardoned and having. his sentence
reduced.
Mass protest .
Popular sentiments erupted at the
news of Suleiman’s life sentence and
subsequent hanging. Mass demonstra-
tions, sit-ins and protests broke out.
Feelings ran high during the demonstra-
tions which assumed a new, political
dimension as the masses let loose their
pent-up rancour against Mubarak and
his unholy allies: Zionism and the US.
Slogans resounded like «Cancel Camp
David, We want a free government anda
free life, Stop the 1981 emergency laws,
All Egyptians are Khater, Mubarak -
Suleiman cleansed your sins!» - reflect-
ing exactly what Suleiman Khater had
come to signify. He was not, as the
defense minister would have all believe,
a «crazy policeman who in a fit of
remorse committed suicide. »
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Thousands of demonstrators
poured into the streets to express their
indignation, from Al Azhar, Cairo, Ain
Shams, Zaqazig, Banha and Al Man-
soura universities. A state of emergency
was declared. Hundreds of anti-riot
troops blocked the roads leading to the
capital, and tried to disperse the crowds
with tear gas and clubs. Pictures of
Mubarak, and the Israeli and US flags,
were burned at all demonstrations. Two
cameramen, one Egyptian and the other
French, were thrown out of one univer-
sity with shouts of «Get out, you
Zionists!»
_In Akyad, Suleiman’s birthplace,
approximately 100 km. northeast of
Cairo, his funeral developed into a mass
demonstration. Eyewitnesses reported
the participation of thousands from
Akyad and surrounding villages and
towns. The police set up roadblocks to
prevent more people from entering
Akyad. Telephone lines were cut, and
reporters were banned from the village.
The mourners raised black placards of
protest. The US and Israeli flags were
burnt and slogans shouted against the
Egyptian defense ministry. The village
police station was burnt and government
buildings attacked. His family refused to
receive condolences - a traditional sign
that they had sworn revenge for the
death.
If Mubarak and his henchmen think
that they have dispensed with
Suleiman’s case by murdering him, they
would do well to remember that «We are
Suleiman Khater and Suleiman Khater
iS US.» @
29 - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 14
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- مارس ١٩٨٦
- المنشئ
- الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين
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