Press Release
By: Committee for Justice
Geneva: August 7, 2023
The Committee for Justice has documented the hunger strike undertaken by Hala Fahmy, an Egyptian journalist, media professional, human rights activist, and advocate for the rights of Maspero (Egyptian Radio and TV headquarters) workers. She is currently detained in the 10th of Ramadan prison. This hunger strike serves as her protest against the physical assaults she has endured from fellow inmates. Despite her consistent complaints, the prison administration has displayed neglect, a direct violation of Article 80 of the Egyptian Prison Regulation Law.
This article stipulates that the prison director or his representative must accept any serious complaints from inmates, whether oral or written, and forward them to the Public Prosecution or the relevant authority after documenting them in the complaint record.
Previous complaints reveal that during her detention renewal session on July 9th of the past year before the Advisory Chamber of Badr Criminal Court, held within the Badr Prisons Complex, Fahmy testified that she has been repeatedly subjected to physical attacks and verbal abuse. She also reported threats from the administration of the 10th of Ramadan prison, where she was recently transferred. Furthermore, she stated that she had received death threats from the head of her cell, who is imprisoned on criminal charges.
The Egyptian TV media figure, Fahmy, was arrested on April 24, 2022. According to her statements during the investigation sessions, she was abused and insulted during her arrest.
Violations against her continued as a detainee inside Al Qanater Women Prison. In previous complaints during investigation sessions or in court, Fahmy stated that the violations against her varied; she was forced to sleep on the floor despite the availability of a vacant bed, forced to walk barefoot in the cell block, leading to achy bones and joints, in addition to being prevented from reading, writing, visiting the prison library, exercising for an entire month, and other prisoners were banned from speaking to her. Also, she was not relocated to another ward than the crowded “Irad ward”, which lacks adequate ventilation and, as she describes, is not fit for human use.
CFJ unequivocally supports Hala Fahmy’s decision to engage in a hunger strike, viewing it as a legitimate form of peaceful resistance. Furthermore, the CFJ firmly opposes any attempts made by Egyptian authorities to coerce her into halting the strike or to resort to force-feeding. Such actions are tantamount to torture and stand in direct contradiction to the declarations made by Tokyo, Malta, and the United Nations regarding the rights of prisoners undertaking hunger strikes.
Additionally, the CFJ urges Egyptian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the grievances expressed by journalist Fahmy. It is essential to identify those responsible for the threats made against her and ensure they are held accountable. Immediate measures should be taken to halt all violations against her and to enhance prison conditions, particularly considering her rapidly deteriorating health circumstances.