Press Release
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored new details about the violations political detainees are subjected to in Borg El-Arab Prison, under the supervision of State Security Officer known as “Hamza El-Masry” (a pseudonym).
– Deprivation of clean water:
According to reports, this officer has prevented detainees from accessing clean water for more than five days, forcing them to drink contaminated, unsafe water from the prison taps. Many detainees are already suffering from harsh detention conditions and illnesses amid deliberate medical neglect. During visits, detainees informed their families that “the water is awful and can’t even be placed on the tongue.”
Amid rising temperatures, the crisis of thirst and dehydration has worsened among detainees, prompting families to bring large amounts of water during each visit, despite the difficulty of transporting it along with other necessities. Nonetheless, the families have made every effort to alleviate the suffering of their detained relatives.
– Reduced visit duration:
These efforts, however, come as restrictions on the entry of essential items into the prison continue, with Officer “Hamza El-Masry” reducing visit durations to just 10 minutes and prohibiting the entry of many essential items brought by families for the detainees.
Additionally, the officer has taken other arbitrary measures, such as transferring some political detainees to criminal prisoner wards, including Ward 25, which has further heightened tensions. Political detainees were forced to mix with criminal prisoners, leading to frequent altercations. Despite these clashes, the officer took no disciplinary action against the criminal prisoners; instead, he punished the political detainees by placing them in disciplinary cells.
For over two months, Borg El-Arab Prison has witnessed continuous crackdowns on detainees, with no clear justification for these repressive practices. This raises questions about the true motives behind these ongoing violations, amid the absence of any legal accountability or effective intervention to stop these crimes.