The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented a serious deterioration in detention conditions inside Borg Al‑Arab Prison in Alexandria, based on credible information and testimonies indicating that political detainees are being subjected to grave and systematic violations that clearly contravene the Egyptian Constitution, the Prisons Regulation Law, and international human rights standards.
According to CFJ’s findings, the prison has recently witnessed collective punitive practices, including violent cell raids, physical assaults on detainees, and the confiscation of essential personal belongings. These measures have reportedly been carried out repeatedly — particularly during late‑night hours and in harsh weather conditions — exacerbating detainees’ suffering and negatively impacting their physical and psychological well‑being
CFJ also documented a severe deterioration in food quality inside the prison, where detainees are reportedly provided with meals unfit for human consumption, posing a direct threat to their health. Additionally, the authorities have been accused of deliberately restricting access to adequate healthcare, including depriving sick detainees of necessary medication and treatment, in blatant violation of the right to health and the right to life.
The committee further highlighted practices that undermine the dignity of detainees and their families, including degrading searches during visitation, deliberate damage to items brought by families, and extreme overcrowding inside cells — conditions that contribute to the spread of disease and insects in an environment unfit for human habitation.
CFJ stressed that what is occurring inside Borg Al‑Arab Prison reflects a systematic pattern of abuse, and called for the immediate cessation of all forms of collective punishment and mistreatment. The organization urged authorities to improve detention conditions in line with national laws and international obligations, ensure access to proper healthcare and adequate nutrition, hold those responsible for violations accountable, and allow independent monitoring visits to review detainees’ conditions without restrictions.
