Alaa El-Din Abdel-Moneim Mahran El Kamash (18 years), was a student in the third year at the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University, born in Helwan region (south of Cairo). He was shot in the chest, on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, during his participation in one of the anti militry coup activities.
“One will not find anything better than martyrdom to start my life with.” This was one of Alaa’s last posts on Facebook. Alaa had a brother and a sister, he was loved and cherished by all members of his big and small family, and hs community, loosing him left a great consequences on them.
His father says “Alaa was beloved, God feearing, striving to serve others and help the needy.”
He was known by everyone in the community, men and women, loved by young and old, and he had a special mentorship with the children of his neighbourhood, he was loved and entertainment them, always brought them sweets and gifts, and when they learned what had happened to him they wept bitterly.
According to his father during the burial his face seemed calm, “I think he saw his seat in Heaven, and we have seen many missionaries since the martyrdom until the burial.” said his father. “I saw his face shining in light until we buried him, and I am sure that he is alive with his Lord.” The father recalls how, on the day of his death, his family, Alaa’s aunts and uncles, gathered with him in his house in an unusual way, and they all ate lunch with them, along with his son Alaa, before he went out in the evening to return to them as a dead body.
Alaa was a devoted person, did a lot of praying at night and fasting supererogatory in his last days, and he did his prayers on time. He was very active and lead a healthy life style, he was an athlete, one of his favorite sports was cycling, and he was keen to participate in long-distance riding events, with the participation of dozens of young people who shared the same hobby.
His sister tells how, despite his habit of participating in anti-militrycoup activities, he didn’t go out with the intention of participating in the demonstration the night he was killed, but was running errands in the neighbourhood, and upon his return, he knew that the demonstration is being attacked by the security forces, he went out, as soon as he has arrived the bullet hit him in the chest.
Five years after his death, his sister recalls his memories and sees that his early passing was a mercy from God, as Egypt become impossible place to live in with dignity.
After his burial, his friend Walid wrote, “I will be happy because there was more than 100 thousand people at your funeral, and everyone is praying for you and saying that you are a hero. Before you died, you were laughing,”
His friends used to write about him, if his friend Islam Reda said, “in our busy life, we cannot forget that good soul that met its Lord 6 years ago, on the night of March 19, 2014, he was a pure pious brother and friend, recalling his memory and his positive impact on us, we will not forget his principles, the way he talked, his sincerity, his sweet, light smile.”