The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the death of Professor Galal Abdel‑Sadeq Mohamed El‑Sahlab, aged 71, inside Minya Maximum‑Security Prison on Monday, 9 February 2026, after nearly thirteen years of detention, which began on 24 November 2013.
Professor El‑Sahlab served as Head of the Physics Department at the Faculty of Science, Assiut University during 2012–2013, and his academic career spanned more than four decades. He began his work as a teaching assistant in 1975, rising through academic ranks until becoming a full professor and department head. He earned his BSc in Physics in 1975, followed by an MSc in 1981, before obtaining his PhD from Assiut University. His scientific contributions included notable research in materials physics, crystallography, and thermal and optical properties, in addition to supervising numerous Master’s and PhD theses.
According to CFJ’s monitoring, he passed away inside his place of detention after many years of incarceration, amid ongoing human rights concerns regarding the conditions of detainees—particularly elderly prisoners and those with chronic health conditions, and the broader issue of medical care inside detention facilities.
CFJ noted that the death of a prominent academic after such a prolonged period of detention raises urgent questions about the adequacy of medical care, the suitability of detention conditions for elderly detainees, and the standards governing long‑term imprisonment reviews.
The committee affirmed that it is following the incident closely as part of its monitoring of detention conditions in Egypt—especially concerning academics and detainees with significant health vulnerabilities—and reiterates the importance of upholding the right to life and ensuring appropriate healthcare standards inside all places of detention.
