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Egypt: CFJ Documents Political Detainees’ Hunger Strike in “10th of Ramadan” Prison and Calls for Positive Engagement with Their Legitimate Demands

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The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) stated that the conditions in prisons and detention facilities in Egypt are witnessing continuous deterioration amidst systematic violations committed against detainees in general, and those held on political charges in particular. It emphasized that prisons have become harsh environments that fail to respect the most basic human rights, where detainees are subjected to various forms of psychological and physical torture, as well as medical neglect and restrictions on visitation. These violations are increasing steadily, especially with the rise in cases of arbitrary arrests targeting individuals from various opposition political factions.

This comes after several political detainees at the Reform and Rehabilitation Center in “10th of Ramadan 6” announced the start of a hunger strike in protest of their prolonged pretrial detention without legal justification and the poor conditions of their incarceration. These detainees had previously called on Egypt’s Public Prosecutor, Counselor Mohamed Shoukry, to visit the prison for an inspection, to assess the conditions of all detainees, to hear their complaints, and to investigate allegations against the prison administration. However, both the Supreme State Security Prosecution and the First Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court declined to consider or document these complaints during pretrial detention renewal sessions last week.

Located in Egypt’s Sharqia Governorate, the “10th of Ramadan 6” Reform and Rehabilitation Center has become a hub for political detentions and is reportedly plagued by dire conditions, according to testimonies from detainees and their families. Political detainees at this center suffer from inhumane conditions, including deprivation of basic rights such as sufficient visitation, daily exercise, and adequate healthcare.

In light of these circumstances, several political detainees began their hunger strike on January 4th to protest their continued pretrial detention without legal grounds. Others have refused to accept prison meals as a form of pressure on the authorities to meet their legitimate demands.

The detainees’ demands include the following key points:

  1. Release of detainees who have exceeded the six-month pretrial detention limit.
  2. Restoration of visitation times to the legally mandated one-hour duration, instead of the current 20-minute limit, which violates prison regulations.
  3. Humane and non-degrading search procedures.
  4. Daily outdoor exercise, a right guaranteed by law.
  5. Removal of the National Security officer stationed at the prison due to their alleged role in detainee mistreatment.
  6. Access to a news channel in the prison cells to stay informed about current events.
  7. Improvement of the quality of food provided to detainees, ensuring it meets health standards.

As part of their protests, several detainees refused to attend pretrial detention renewal sessions held by the Cairo Criminal Court on January 8th. Others turned their backs to the cameras, refusing to participate in remote hearings via video conferencing. These acts of defiance highlighted their objection to continued pretrial detention on political charges without legal justification. Despite these protests, the presiding judge, Counselor Gharib Mohamed, refused to document the detainees’ complaints or investigate their refusal to attend, instead renewing their detention irrespective of their participation.

On January 9th, during another session before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, a 67-year-old detainee refused to participate in the video conference and informed the prosecutor of his intention to join the hunger strike to protest his unjust detention and the poor conditions of his incarceration.

These protests and the ongoing violations underscore the worsening situation inside Egypt’s prisons and detention centers, raising concerns about the lives and well-being of detainees. The Egyptian authorities are urged to respect detainees’ rights and adhere to national and international human rights laws and agreements.

It is worth noting that the detainees’ demands align with ongoing calls from the international community to improve prison conditions in Egypt. Several United Nations mechanisms, including human rights rapporteurs, have called for urgent measures to enhance detention conditions across the country.

In its 2022 report, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stressed the need for Egyptian authorities to take immediate steps to ensure safe and healthy detention conditions, including the provision of necessary medical care and ensuring detainees’ rights to communicate with their lawyers and families. Similarly, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture highlighted in his 2021 annual report the need for Egypt to investigate all instances of torture and mistreatment, particularly in facilities such as “10th of Ramadan Prison,” where inhumane conditions constitute severe rights violations.

The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression also condemned restrictions on detainees’ ability to communicate with the outside world, emphasizing the importance of their rights to express opinions, maintain contact with their lawyers and families, and be free from threats or arbitrary practices.

In light of these demands, the CFJ reiterates full solidarity with detainees in the “10th of Ramadan 6” Reform and Rehabilitation Center as they continue their hunger strike. The committee renews call for Egyptian authorities to investigate detainees’ complaints promptly, take necessary actions to improve detention conditions, and fulfill their legitimate humanitarian demands. CFJ also urges the release of detainees who have exceeded the legal limit for pretrial detention and calls on the authorities to uphold international human rights standards in all detention facilities and prisons across Egypt.

For more information and media requests or inquiries, please get in touch with us (+41229403538 / media@cfjustice.org)

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