Ahmed Essam Fathi
Ahmed Essam Fathi was a 14-year-old boy who was unable to stay in school for lack of financial resources. He had to drop out and start working as a mechanic to support himself and his family.
On Friday, January 28, 2011, his father asked him to take his sister to her home on his motorcycle since it wasn’t safe to be working on the streets that day. After he went to Tahrir Square to take part in demonstrations despite the violence. According to his father he felt that social justice was badly needed in Egypt. His body was found near Qasr El Nil Street, with a bullet in his chest. He was transferred to hospital by demonstrators.
After a painstaking 14 day search his body was found due to a mark on his body, an oversized toe on his foot, as well as the clothes he was wearing that his family recognized.
His father explains why his son, who was just a child of 14, decided to participate in the demonstration even though he didn’t know much about politics at this age; he said “Life is very hard in Egypt. The strong ones oppress the poor.” His father sadly added, “He was my only son among his sisters, and now he is gone.”
Karim, a friend of Ahmed, who was with him at the demonstration said he participated because he dreamed of a better life. Finally, his mother remembers her son by his kindness, “He acted like a man, even though he was just a little boy.”
She added, “My son was compassionate. When he received his salary he used to put part of it aside, and after he collect a good sum he would give it to me to buy what was necessary for his sisters.”