The body of a protester killed in clashes with police arrived in Tahrir Square Monday ahead of his funeral.
About 2,000 people had gathered in the area for the funeral of Gaber Salah, 17, also known as Jika — a member of the April 6 Youth Movement who was killed in clashes with police during commemorations of last year’s Mohamed Mahmoud demonstrations, in which more than 40 people had died.
Crowds chanted “There is no god but Allah.” One sign read, “I believe firmly that these people will always have invisible heroes who feel and sanctify freedom and dignity,” echoing words of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Salah’s family, speaking through a loudspeaker, asked for due respect during the funeral, as well as silence and prayer. His uncle, standing in line to pray for his nephew, asked for people not to chant, saying, “This isn’t a revolution; it’s a funeral.”
Many in the crowd wanted to chant, saying the young man’s death is political and that he was killed at the hands of the Interior Ministry.
“He was killed by police,” one activist said, in objection to requests for silence.
Some voiced political chants despite the family’s request. Some chanted, “My son Gaber was killed,” “Morsy is responsible” or “There is no god but Allah, Morsy is the enemy of Allah.”
Later in the afternoon, chants broke out demanding the fall of the regime, with thousands marching at Bab al-Wazir Cemetery.
Salah died Sunday evening at Qasr al-Aini Hospital. The April 6 Youth Movement had announced the death Salah after he sustained birdshot injuries in the head, chest and right arm during the demonstrations.
Earlier Monday, demonstrators began to gather at the entrance of Mohamed Mahmoud Street from Tahrir Square. Salah had requested that his funeral be held in Tahrir.
Street cleaners cleared stones and bricks on the street left from clashes from between protesters and police over the past few days.
Many TV channel reporters are also present in the square to broadcast the funeral live.
