Political detainees inside Sector 2 of Badr 3 Prison escalated their protests in rejection of the inhumane detention conditions they are subjected to, and in condemnation of the continuous disregard by the Badr Prisons Complex administration of their legitimate demands, which include their most basic human rights such as improving living conditions inside the cells, providing necessary medical care, and halting retaliatory practices against them.
Dr. Abdullah Shihata, in a symbolic protest, set fire to his cell’s blankets in an attempt to draw attention to the medical and living neglect he and his fellow detainees suffer. Following this, a security force led by the director of the Badr Prisons Complex, Major General Amr El-Dosoky, arrived and proceeded to search the cell and strip Shihata of all his personal belongings.
This escalation by the prison administration caused a deterioration in Dr. Shihata’s psychological condition, prompting him to attempt suicide again by swallowing an entire strip of pills. He was immediately transferred to the prison hospital, where he was restrained to the bed and injected with a sedative, with no consideration given to his health or psychological state.
The prison administration escalated further through a series of punitive and abusive measures against all detainees in the sector. Among these measures was the closure of the sanitation system within the cells, resulting in the spread of foul odors and the proliferation of insects such as mosquitoes and cockroaches.
In addition, the administration cut off water supply to the prison except for one hour at midday, when the water is extremely hot and unfit for use.
It is worth noting that these retaliatory measures are being carried out under the supervision of a number of officers and officials, including National Security Officer Colonel Marwan Hamad (code name), National Security Officer Major Ahmed Fikry (code name), and Director of the Badr Prisons Complex Major General Amr El-Dosoky.
Also involved in implementing these measures are the inspector of the Badr Prisons Complex, Colonel Haytham Abu Muslim; the head of investigations at Badr 3 Prison, Major Mohamed Hassan Sawar; the warden of Badr 3 Prison, Colonel Ahmed Al-Khuli; his deputy, Major Mohamed Hossam; and the doctor supervising the prison clinic, Mohamed Abdel Samad — all of whom bear responsibility for the escalation and violations being committed against the political detainees.
For its part, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) condemns these abusive measures against political detainees inside Sector 2 of Badr 3 Prison, and calls for their immediate cessation, for those responsible to be held accountable, and for impunity to be prevented. The CFJ also calls for the detainees’ legitimate demands to be met — demands that represent their most basic human rights, guaranteed under international covenants and treaties signed by Egypt — and holds the Egyptian authorities fully responsible for the violations taking place inside the Badr Prisons Complex.
Furthermore, the CFJ urges UN mechanisms and the international community to pressure Egypt to fulfill its obligations toward these detainees deprived of their freedom, to stop the blatant violations committed against them — which have driven several to attempt suicide — and to call for visits by international UN and human rights delegations to the Badr Prisons Complex to investigate the nature of the violations occurring there and attempt to halt them.
