The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) has documented grave violations and dire conditions inside the detention rooms of the Third October Police Station, located in the Sixth of October City, Giza Governorate, Egypt. Testimonies from former detainees have revealed inhumane detention conditions that threaten their lives and health.
According to these testimonies, the police station detains numbers far exceeding the capacity of its detention rooms, which are no more than 16 square meters in size. More than 150 people are crammed into each room, leading to extreme overcrowding and a complete lack of natural ventilation.
The rooms are located in the basement, with no access to sunlight, which has led to the spread of contagious skin diseases such as eczema. Many detainees have also suffered from severe respiratory infections due to the deteriorating health conditions and the absence of necessary medical care, particularly for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
– Shocking Testimonies from Detainees:
A former detainee at the police station stated: “I was arrested and later released, but I swear to God, if I were to be detained there again, I would prefer death over enduring such inhumane conditions. Insects are everywhere, the toilets are extremely filthy, diseases are rampant, and the treatment by officers and guards is terrible.”
When asked about access to medicine and treatment, he responded: “They don’t even allow medicine inside, so can you imagine them allowing personal hygiene products? Even a simple bar of soap can only be brought in with money.”
– Human Rights Demands to Stop These Violations:
CFJ strongly condemns the severe violations suffered by detainees inside the Third October Police Station and holds the Egyptian authorities fully accountable for their lives and well-being. The committee urges the authorities to comply with international treaties and agreements that guarantee detainees’ rights, including: Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which mandates that all persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with dignity and respect for their humanity and article 7 of the same covenant, which prohibits cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
CFJ also calls on the Egyptian Public Prosecutor and the Public Prosecution to activate their oversight role in detention facilities, in accordance with Article 55 of the Egyptian Constitution, which emphasizes the necessity of treating detainees in a manner that preserves their dignity, and Article 42 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which obligates the Public Prosecution to conduct regular inspections of detention facilities and ensure they are free of any violations. The committee stresses the importance of identifying those responsible for these violations and preventing them from escaping punishment.
In this context, CFJ urges the international community, including the United Nations and the Special Rapporteur on Torture, to intervene and pressure the Egyptian authorities to put an end to these violations and ensure respect for detainees’ rights. The committee calls on the international community to use all diplomatic and legal means to compel the Egyptian authorities to adhere to international human rights standards and cease the systematic abuses against detainees.
