Press release
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored the death of political detainee Hossam El-Din Kamal Abdel Majeed Abdel Moneim (59 years old) inside a prison transfer vehicle during his transfer from the Helwan Police Station—where he was being held in pretrial detention—to Gamasa Prison in the far north of Egypt.
– Deliberate Medical Neglect:
The committee stated that Abdel Moneim died in the afternoon of Tuesday, August 27th. The administration of Gamasa Prison refused to receive his body, resulting in its transfer to a nearby hospital. The Ministry of Interior did not officially inform his family of his death—despite more than two days passing since the incident—leaving them to learn about it through another source.
The deceased had a heart condition, experienced difficulty breathing normally, and suffered from severe circulatory collapse. He did not receive the necessary treatment and medication, and suffered a heart attack while being transported in a metal vehicle for more than 10 hours.
It is worth noting that Abdel Moneim completed a three-year prison sentence in July on a political charge. Instead of processing his release, the Egyptian authorities re-arrested him in connection with several new cases, leading to his transfer between various police stations (Helwan, El-Maasara, Ain Shams, and El-Nahda) under harsh detention conditions.
– Calls for Accountability and Improved Detention Conditions:
CFJ condemned the harsh conditions endured by Abdel Moneim before his death, both during his detention and transfer, which CFJ argue caused his deliberate death. CFJ is demanding investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death, accountability for those responsible, and measures to prevent their impunity.
CFJ also urges Egyptian authorities to cease the systematic policy of “repeated arrests” and to improve the detention conditions of political detainees.
– 39 Deaths in Custody in 2024:
This incident brings the total number of deaths recorded by CFJ in Egyptian prisons and detention centers since the beginning of 2024 to 39. 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.
