The violence in Egypt is taking a toll on families in the Bay Area. Several have lost loved ones in the past few weeks.
NBC Bay Area’s Marianne Favro talked with one man whose brother-in-law was killed Wednesday while protesting against the ousting of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi last month.
Ahmed Ragab of Santa Clara says his brother-in-law’s commitment to democracy cost him his life.
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For weeks, as the violence in Egypt has again escalated, so too did Ragab’s fear for his brother-in-law’s safety. He knew Muhammad Yacout was in Rabaa Square protesting.
“He couldn’t settle for his vote being stolen away, the way it happened on July 3rd,” Ragab said. “We were told he was killed by a sniper shot from a chopper in Rabaa Square.”
Yacout was just 37 years old, a devoted father of two children, ages 3 and 5. He was an engineer who worked during the day and joined protesters at night.
Ragab says, at the time of Yacout’s death, his brother-in-law was trying to stop a military bulldozer from taking over Raaba Square.
“My sadness doesn’t stop at the loss of Mohammed, but I mourn the whole nation and the way the army general is pulling all of Egypt into a black hole basically,” Ragab said.
Ragab said he hopes Yacout’s children will one day enjoy political freedom in Egypt
and understand that it was a dream their father fought passionately for.
Ragab and his wife plan to fly to Egypt this weekend for Yacout’s memorial.
A vigil showing support for the protesters in Egypt was scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Thursday night in San Jose at the corner of Winchester and Stevens Creek.
