Press Release
The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) has monitored the death of political detainee Fadel Salim Mahmoud (64 years old) on Sunday, December 1, at Minya Prison. Mahmoud, a former deputy principal of an Azhar institute in Tal Al-Gharbi village, Deir Mawas Center, Minya Governorate in southern Egypt, succumbed to torture and deliberate medical neglect.
– Torture and deliberate medical neglect:
According to preliminary information, Mahmoud’s health severely deteriorated over the past three years due to sustained physical and psychological torture, which led to his death in custody.
Mahmoud had voluntarily turned himself in to the Deir Mawas police station after his son was arrested and he was threatened with fabricated charges unless he surrendered. At the time of his surrender, Mahmoud was in good health but left the station paralyzed as a result of severe torture.
His health further declined after his transfer to Minya Prison, where harsh detention conditions and the absence of necessary medical care exacerbated his condition. This deterioration led to a stroke and memory loss, leaving him bedridden throughout his detention without adequate medical attention until his death.
– Calls for investigation and accountability:
CFJ stated that Mahmoud’s death under such tragic circumstances exemplifies the grave abuses faced by political detainees in Egypt. The committee stresses the urgent need for independent and transparent investigations to determine the circumstances of his death, hold those responsible accountable, and prevent impunity.
– 47 Deaths in Custody in 2024:
This incident brings the total number of deaths recorded by CFJ in Egyptian prisons and detention centers since the beginning of 2024 to 47. 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.
