News briefing
By: Committee for Justice
Geneva: July 9, 2023
The number of deaths inside detention facilities and prisons in Egypt has risen to 19, following the documentation by the Committee for Justice of two new deaths: one of a political detainee in Borg El Arab prison, and the other of a citizen who was tortured in a security facility in Alexandria.
Death in Borg El Arab prison:
CFJ clarified that the first death occurred in Borg El Arab prison (west of Alexandria). The victim was Ali Amer (61years old), a political detainee who passed away on Friday, July 7, 2023. He was a preacher at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and a resident of El Santa, Gharbia Governorate. He had been in detention since 2016 and died due to medical negligence and poor detention conditions.
Death due to torture:
The second death documented by CFJ was of Mahmoud Tawfik, a civilian who died as a result of torture after being arrested about two weeks ago from his home on Ezz Street in the Kom Al-Shakafa area of Karmouz, Alexandria Governorate. CFJ pointed out that security forces in Alexandria forcibly stormed Tawfik’s house on June 25, 2023, brutally beating him and harassing his wife, which led to violent clashes between him and the forces. He was then taken to an unknown location, and there was no news about him until his body was handed over and buried in the family cemetery on July 8, 2023, amid tightened security.
Extrajudicial killing and demands for investigations:
CFJ has emphasized that the circumstances surrounding Mahmoud Tawfik’s death, including the confiscation of surveillance camera recordings by security forces from the residential building and nearby shops, provide clear evidence that his death qualifies as an extrajudicial killing, a crime that holds accountability under international law. It is imperative that those responsible for his torture and complicity in his death are held accountable. CFJ also called on the Egyptian authorities to open an investigation into the death of the political detainee Ali Amer in Burj Al Arab prison, while ensuring necessary and sufficient healthcare within detention facilities and prisons. Furthermore, it demanded the improvement of living conditions in accordance with Egypt’s international and humanitarian obligations.
19 deaths in 2023:
With these new cases, the total number of deaths documented by CFJ inside detention facilities in Egypt since the beginning of 2023 has reached 19. The latest victim was Ali Abbas Barakat, a lawyer and human rights defender, who died as a result of medical negligence and poor detention conditions.
Accurate information about death cases during detention in Egypt can be obtained through the Justice Watch Archive service provided by CFJ, which contains information about more than 14,000 victims and over 30,000 violations. It also monitors violations inside more than 500 places of detention in Egypt.