Egyptian opposition groups plan a protest outside the office of the Prosecutor General in Central Cairo Sunday marking the 40th day to the death of a young blogger who was allegedly beaten by police.
"On the 40th day of Khaled Saeed's death, we call for the Emergency Law to be cancelled and an end to torture and maltreatment in police stations," a member of the Kefaya opposition group, which organizes the protest, said. He added that the protest would start at midday as member of the April 6 Movement and bloggers would be there.
"This protest is part of our campaign against torture and Emergency. This campaign will never stop until practical moves are taken by the Government to end abuses,' he said.
The death of Saeed, 28, on June 6 has sparked public protests and raised concerns among US and European allies and donors.
The opposition has used the case to call for an end to the Emergency Law, which they say gives police impunity and stifles dissent.
Under local and pressures, the prosecution referred two policemen to stand trial later this month. A group on the social networking website Facebook, meanwhile, urged all Egyptians to hold a silent sit-in on the anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution on July 23 in Cairo and Alexandria.
"Declaring protest against torture and Emergency Law extension, we call on all Egyptians to be clad in black and protest on the Nile Cornish in Cairo and the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria," a group, called "We are all Khaled", said.
On Friday, activists from across Egypt's political spectrum Friday gathered in Alexandria to mark the 40th day since the death Saeed. The protesters included members of the opposition 6th of April Group, the National Coalition for Change led by former chief of the UN nuclear watchdog and MPs.
They chanted against the Emergency Law, which has been in force for 29 years. Street demonstrations in Egypt are not uncommon, with regular protests over food prices and low wages but most of them remain very small and are quickly broken up by riot police.
The size and scale of successive Friday events in Alexandria suggest that Saeed's death has struck a chord with political activists and the public.
