The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) has stated that systematic violations perpetrated by Egyptian authorities against detainees held on political charges, as well as against dissidents, activists, and human rights defenders, have reached unprecedented levels of cruelty and inhumanity. The committee noted that these abuses—which include torture, inhumane treatment, and deprivation of basic rights—may drive some detainees to consider suicide as their only escape from this harsh reality, amid suspicious international silence that at times borders on complicity.
This statement came after CFJ documented the severe health deterioration of detained Egyptian economist and thinker Abd El-Khaleq Farouk (67 years old). Egyptian authorities arrested him in late October on charges of spreading false news and belonging to a banned group. His wife has warned of his worsening health condition following the authorities’ refusal to grant him access to necessary medical care.
This is not the first time Dr. Farouk has been detained. Egyptian authorities previously arrested him in October 2018 after the publication of his book “Is Egypt Really Poor?”, which sparked widespread debate about the country’s economic policies. He was later released.
Under the harsh conditions and repressive practices Dr. Farouk is subjected to, he expressed grave concern during his appearance before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on January 9, 2025, about the inhumane conditions he faces in prison, which could lead to his death. In statements to the prosecution, he emphasized that his case is among the most significant in Egypt’s judicial history over the past 50 years, highlighting its unprecedented gravity given the politically motivated trials targeting dissidents and activists. Dr. Farouk requested that his remarks be officially recorded in the session minutes, expressing fear of potential elimination due to the psychological and physical abuse he endures.
Dr. Farouk further disclosed that two young detainees in the Tenth of Ramadan Prison have begun a hunger strike in protest against mistreatment and harsh prison conditions. He noted plans for a mass hunger strike in the prison on Saturday, January 11, under the slogan “Freedom or Death.”
He urged the prosecution and lawyers to visit the prison to observe the deplorable conditions inflicted on detainees by a National Security officer identified as Hani Salah Abdel Fattah. These measures include solitary confinement for 23 hours daily in sealed cells, deprivation of contact with the outside world, and isolation from news for over two years in some cases.
Dr. Farouk also pointed to the profound psychological impact these practices have on detainees. The lack of social interaction and confinement in inhumane conditions result in severe psychological breakdowns. He called for mental health experts’ testimonies, emphasizing that such conditions cause significant mental and neurological instability, further deteriorating detainees’ physical and psychological health.
Additionally, Dr. Farouk revealed his own suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. He confirmed that these conditions pose a serious threat to his health and, combined with the harsh prison environment and mistreatment, could lead to his death. He described these deliberate practices, orchestrated by the National Security officer at the prison, as an attempt to eliminate him.
Dr. Farouk highlighted the substandard conditions in the new prison cells, which lack minimum standards of human decency, including dilapidated bathrooms and poor ventilation. He has repeatedly called for increasing outdoor exercise time to three hours daily instead of one, as well as for permission to communicate with the outside world and access news—requests that the prison administration categorically denies.
On January 15, 2025, CFJ has documented Dr. Farouk’s transfer to a hospital for the second time since his arrest due to a severe heart attack linked to his deteriorating health. Despite this, he was subsequently moved, upon orders from National Security officer Hani Salah, to a remote facility within the prison housing primarily criminal inmates. This move, described as another attempt to isolate him from other political detainees, included emptying surrounding cells of other detainees, raising serious concerns about the authorities’ intent to eliminate him.
CFJ expresses solidarity with Dr. Abd El-Khaleq Farouk, emphasizing that the harsh treatment he endures constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights and clearly demonstrates the Egyptian authorities’ intent to suppress dissenting voices and political activists seeking justice and freedom.
The committee expresses deep concerns over Dr. Farouk’s critical health condition, holding Egyptian authorities fully responsible for his life and well-being, as well as for all political detainees on hunger strike at the 10th Ramadan Prison who face similar conditions. CFJ demands the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Farouk and urges the international community and United Nations mechanisms to intervene urgently to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure immediate protection for all detainees.
