Press release
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored that the visit ban has been reinstated for human rights lawyer and activist Hoda Abdelmonem, who is currently detained in the 10th of Ramadan Prison in Al Sharqia Governorate, Egypt.
Hoda Abdelmonem, a former member of the National Council for Human Rights, remains in detention despite the completion of her prison sentence. Her pretrial detention has been renewed in connection with case No. 730 of 2020, on the same charges for which she was originally imprisoned, in violation of Egyptian law, which prohibits trying a person twice for the same charges.
– Deliberate Medical Neglect:
Since her detention, Abdelmonem’s health has severely deteriorated. She has developed severe knee osteoarthritis, leading to cartilage erosion, which has impaired her mobility. She has also suffered a heart attack, high blood pressure, a blood clot in her leg, and the failure of her left kidney. Despite these critical health conditions, prison authorities have refused to transfer her to a hospital for necessary treatment.
– Violation of Laws and Regulations:
CFJ highlighted that the ban on visits contradicts both international and local laws, citing the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners of 1977, which guarantees detainees the right to communicate with their families and friends.
CFJ also referred to the Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, which affirm the right of prisoners to receive visits under reasonable conditions. Additionally, these measures conflict with the internal regulations of Egyptian prisons, which grant the right to regular visits for both convicted and pretrial detainees.
CFJ expressed its concern over these violations, calling on the Egyptian authorities to adhere to both Egyptian and international laws, allow Abdelmonem’s family to visit her regularly, and refrain from using the visit ban as a means of pressure against her or her family.
