A sad moment for Egypt, as mourners gathered for the funeral of a mother who was gunned down during a protest in Cairo Saturday. 

Activist Shaima al-Sabbagh, 32, was shot in the head as police fired into the crowd.  She was immediately taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  She is survived by her 5-year old son.

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Al-Sabbagh joined the peaceful march to lay a wreath at the Tahrir Square, to commemorate the 4^th anniversary of the 2011 uprising that overthrew Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. 

Photos from the scene the moment Al-Sabbagh was hit were immediately posted online by several news sites, and by Twitter users.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said a probe into the death of the female activist is underway and vowed to bring to justice whoever committed a mistake. 

The Socialist Popular Alliance Party, of which Al-Sabbagh is a member, released a statement Sunday blaming the police for her death.

At least 18 people were killed in the attack.

Human Rights Watch condemns the incident and highlighted the need for an independent investigation.  The group wants to put a stop to police' use of excessive force.   

"Four years after Egypt's revolution, police are still killing protesters on a regular basis," said Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East and North Africa director.

"While President Sisi was at Davos burnishing his international image, his security forces were routinely using violence against Egyptians participating in peaceful demonstrations," she added.

Security forces had been deployed across the city to prevent a repeat of the attack. Protests also continued in the streets of Cairo on Sunday.

Authorities have also been stepping up security in Cairo and other neighboring cities against Islamists organizing anti-government protests -- this time, against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.  He is the former army chief who ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. 

Hundreds of Islamists have been reported killed in clashes with police, while scores of policemen and soldiers have also been killed in Islamist attacks.

Tagsarab spring anniversary, hosni mubarak, Egypt