It is 15 August 2013, a day after the deadly dispersal of the Rabaa Adwayia Islamist sit-in in Cairo, and the military have sacked Morsi. Two Islamist men in their 30s, Abdallah and his friend Galal, among dozens of others, had taken the fight to the streets against thousands of police and military forces. Right outside Cairo’s historic train station, near al-Fatah mosque, both took cover from the live rounds fired at different groups of protesters and some masked militants armed with shotguns.
The two, believing in the cause of ‘revolting to save Islam and restore the presidency of former President Mohamed Morsi’, repeated the Shehada – a statement of faith in Islam – knowing the end might be near, Abdallah tells The Africa Report.
As both ran for cover from the tear gas and live rounds, the upper part of Abdallah’s grey jalabiya turned red, seconds after Glalal was shot dead in the
There's more to this story
Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked.
cancel anytime
Already a a subscriber Sign In