The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented deeply alarming and consistent testimonies from families of detainees held at Al‑Dekheila Police Station in Alexandria, reporting a severe escalation in torture, ill‑treatment, and grave abuses inside detention rooms, amid a complete absence of accountability and the continued entrenchment of impunity.
According to testimonies reviewed by CFJ, detainees have been subjected to severe beatings, verbal humiliation, stripping of clothing, and suspension during torture, in addition to threats and reprisals against anyone attempting to complain—constituting a clear violation of human dignity and an outright breach of the absolute prohibition of torture in all its forms.
CFJ also documented deliberate damage to detainees’ personal belongings, including the soaking of blankets and clothing with water, as part of collective punitive measures intended to degrade and inflict physical and psychological harm. Moreover, authorities have imposed arbitrary bans on bringing essential medications for detainees with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension—placing their lives at serious risk.
Testimonies further indicated severely deteriorating living conditions, including extreme overcrowding beyond the station’s capacity, lack of ventilation, and failure to meet even the minimum standards of humane detention. Detainees are also forced to bear financial burdens to obtain basic necessities, such as fans or essential supplies, only for these items to be confiscated later—forcing detainees to repurchase them repeatedly.
CFJ warned that these practices amount to torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, prohibited under the Egyptian Constitution and international conventions, foremost among them the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT). The committee stressed that the silence—or complicity—of security leadership constitutes direct legal responsibility.
The committee also expressed deep concern over reports of reprisals against citizens who attempted to document or report these violations, accusing them of “spreading false news” as a tool to silence victims and witnesses and obstruct truth‑seeking.
CFJ calls for an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation into all reported violations, holding accountable all officials involved in torture or ill‑treatment, and the immediate release of any detainees subjected to arbitrary detention or whose lives are at risk. The committee further demands that authorities guarantee detainees’ rights to medical care, humane treatment, and protection from abuse without discrimination.