Press release
Geneva – July 16, 2024
The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) has monitored six deaths of detainees inside the Zagazig Police Station in Egypt’s Sharqia Governorate, including one political detainee. These deaths resulted from the appalling detention conditions amidst high temperatures and severe overcrowding in the cells.
Five criminal detainees died on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9th and 10th. The first died in cell number 2, two in cell number 3, and another two in cell number 4.
These deaths were attributed to the inhumane detention conditions, where the cells hold three times their capacity, lack proper ventilation, and have irregular water supply, being available for only two hours daily. The situation has led to the spread of diseases due to the absence of general and personal hygiene and a lack of medical and health care, compounded by the high temperatures.
Additionally, political detainee Mohamed Farouk Hassanein, 49, died on Monday, July 15th. Hassanein, who worked as a marriage officiant in Mubarak and Shobak districts in Zagazig, saw his health deteriorate in recent weeks, suffering from chest tightness and breathing difficulties. His death was also a result of the dire detention conditions, excessive heat, and severe overcrowding.
CFJ has sounded the alarm over the harsh and inhumane detention conditions faced by detainees in Egypt’s detention centers and prisons. The committee has previously warned about the ongoing electricity cuts and high temperatures.
CFJ calls for serious, impartial, transparent, and swift investigations into these six deaths and urges accountability for those in charge at Zagazig Police Station to prevent them from escaping punishment.
CFJ urges Egyptian authorities to halt the misuse of pre-trial detention laws against dissidents and activists and to implement the existing legal alternatives within Egyptian law, considering the overcrowded detention facilities and prisons.
This incident brings the total number of deaths recorded by CFJ in Egyptian prisons and detention centers since the beginning of 2024 to 33. 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.
