The organizations participating in the Article 55 Coalition have issued their monthly report for October 2024, highlighting the escalation of violations within prisons and detention centers in Egypt. The report sheds light on the inhumane treatment of detainees, ongoing legal violations, and deaths caused by medical neglect. It also addresses the deteriorating state of political and civil rights in the country.
Key Events and Incidents:
- Arbitrary Arrests and Enforced Disappearances:
During the month, prominent economist Abdel Khaleq Farouk was arrested from his home without disclosure of his detention location or legal justification, sparking concerns for his health due to being denied necessary medical care. Similarly, journalist and cartoonist Ashraf Omar has been held without trial for over 100 days, despite international calls for his release. Six employees were also detained for participating in a conference supporting workers dismissed under the drug abuse law, with authorities initially denying their existence before commencing investigations. - Notable Local Events:
In a tragic incident in Al-Ayyat, two children were run over while on their way to school due to the closure of a main bridge. Protests following the incident led to the arrest of four local residents, two of whom were later released. Authorities also suppressed protests in solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon, arresting activists who were subsequently released on bail after several days.
Monitoring Prison Violations:
The coalition documented two deaths inside prisons and detention centers in Egypt during October. They also reported cases of intimidation, physical assaults, and medical negligence in prisons such as Badr, Wadi El-Natrun, and Borg Al-Arab. These abuses have prompted some detainees to announce hunger strikes in protest.
Calls to End Violations:
The Article 55 Coalition stated that conditions in prisons and detention centers are unsurprising and align with the general approach of Egyptian authorities toward detainees, particularly political ones. The coalition described these practices as systematic rather than isolated incidents, contrary to the claims of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior.
The coalition also criticized the culture of impunity for human rights violations within detention centers, arguing that this has emboldened such practices and entrenched them as a modus operandi of the Egyptian prison system. Despite documented and verified violations, no official has faced accountability or even reprimand.
The coalition expressed grave concerns over the fate of detainees given the increasing number of deaths in detention facilities and the worsening living conditions within them.
The Article 55 Coalition called for an investigation into these violations and for those responsible to be held accountable in accordance with Egyptian and international law. They emphasized the need to implement the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Egyptian prison regulations, ensuring compliance and providing detainees with dignified living conditions that respect their humanity.
