The organizations of the Article 55 Coalition stated that prisons and detention facilities in Egypt have witnessed, since the beginning of 2025 until now, a concerning increase in the pace of gross violations, particularly in Badr, Borg Al-Arab, and New Valley prisons. These violations include the use of systematic torture, deliberate medical neglect, and inhumane treatment that threatens the lives of thousands of detainees.
The three prisons mentioned have become symbols of repression and authoritarianism, turning into places of torture and collective punishment rather than rehabilitation or justice. This was confirmed by monitoring from coalition organizations, which noted that these violations are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic policy aimed at humiliating and terrorizing detainees and their families.
– Badr 3 Prison: Torture and Medical Neglect Lead to Deaths and Hunger Strikes
In Badr 3 Prison, severe cases of medical neglect were recorded, leading to the death of detainee Mohammad Helal, who was transferred to Qasr Al-Aini Hospital with fatal injuries suspected to be the result of deadly torture. This incident sparked widespread anger among detainees, who declared a mass hunger strike to protest the inhumane detention conditions. Additionally, detainee Mahmoud Abdullah attempted suicide by self-immolation due to the continued medical neglect of his critical health condition. He suffers from heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney issues, yet no treatment has been provided.
In general, detention conditions in the Badr Prison Complex are characterized by a complete lack of medical care, with torture used as a tool for control and punishment. Many detainees suffer from chronic illnesses that go untreated, worsening their health to the point of death.
– Borg Al-Arab Prison: Medical Neglect and Poor Conditions Cause Death and Social Isolation
In Borg Al-Arab Prison, political detainee Saad Al-Sayyid Al-Sayed Medin (57 years old) died in January 2025 due to deliberate medical neglect and poor detention conditions. Medin, an Arabic language teacher from Sharqia Governorate, suffered continuous health deterioration without appropriate medical intervention. His death marked the second documented fatality in Egyptian prisons during the same month, indicating a deliberate state policy of neglecting detainees’ medical needs.
Reports from coalition organizations also revealed that detainees in Borg Al-Arab were deprived of clean water for over five days, forcing them to drink contaminated water, exacerbating thirst and dehydration. Prison authorities reduced visitation times to just ten minutes and banned essential items brought by families, such as clothes and medications.
Additionally, several detainees were arbitrarily transferred from Badr 1 Prison to Borg Al-Arab, increasing their suffering by isolating them from their families and imposing financial and logistical burdens on their relatives. Arbitrary transfers are part of a broader policy of collective punishment against political detainees.
– New Valley Prison: Systematic Torture and Inhumane Detention Conditions
In New Valley Prison, cases of systematic torture and deliberate denial of medical care for individuals with serious illnesses have been documented, severely worsening their health. One prominent form of torture is known as the “reception ceremony,” where new detainees are brutally beaten with sticks and electric cables for hours, often causing them to lose consciousness. Afterwards, they are held in solitary confinement cells referred to as “disciplinary” for periods lasting up to a year without electricity or water, receiving minimal food and water.
The cells in New Valley Prison lack proper sanitation facilities, forcing detainees to relieve themselves in plastic bags. They are also deprived of basic hygiene supplies, leading to the spread of diseases like scabies and lice.
– Prison Mortality Statistics in 2025
Statistics from the Article 55 Coalition organizations indicate an alarming rise in deaths inside Egyptian prisons and detention facilities in 2025. The following cases were documented:
- Abdul Salam Mahmoud Sedouma, an engineer detained from Ousim Center in Giza Governorate, died after a long battle with cancer on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
- Saad Al-Sayyid Al-Sayed Medin (57 years old), who died due to deliberate medical neglect and poor conditions in Borg Al-Arab Prison on January 19, 2025.
- Mostafa Abu El-Magd Suleiman Mohamed (57 years old), a political detainee in Gamasa High-Security Prison, died of a heart attack amid deliberate medical neglect on January 20, 2025.
- Ahmed Gabr, who suffered from a brain tumor, died in New Valley Prison on January 19, 2025.
- Hisham El-Hadad, an engineer detained in Tenth of Ramadan Prison, died due to deliberate medical neglect on February 1, 2025.
- Nabil Farfour (65 years old), an agricultural engineer from Damanhur, died at Damnhour Security Forces Headquarters in Beheira Governorate due to deliberate medical neglect on March 2, 2025.
- Mohammad Abdul Razek Ahmed Ghoneim, who died in Damanhur Prison on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
- Abdul Fattah Mohammad Abdul Maksoud Abedo (60 years old), who died in Gamasa Prison on Wednesday, April 3, 2025, due to poor detention conditions and deliberate medical neglect.
- Mohammad Hassan Helal (32 years old), who died at Qasr Al-Aini Hospital in Cairo after being transferred from Badr 3 Prison in critical condition. Strong suspicions exist regarding his exposure to deadly torture or systematic liquidation inside his cell, on April 7, 2025.
- Mahmoud Asaad (26 years old), who died at Khalifa Police Station in Cairo on Saturday, April 12, 2025, days after his arrest, with clear signs of torture visible on his body according to photographic evidence.
- Yasser Mohammad El-Khashab, who died at Badr Prison Hospital during open-heart surgery on Friday, April 11, 2025. A resident of Damietta, he had been detained for nearly 10 years.
- Alaa Jamal (30 years old), who died in Badr 3 Prison on April 15, 2025, after being subjected to pressure, denied visits, placed in disciplinary confinement, and found hanged in his cell under claims of suicide.
In light of the above, the Article 55 Coalition urges Egyptian authorities to take immediate action to halt these blatant violations, which contradict the most basic principles of human rights and international law. We demand the following:
- Conduct impartial, transparent, and effective investigations into the aforementioned violations and all other documented abuses in Egyptian prisons and detention centers, identify those responsible, hold them accountable, and prevent impunity.
- Improve detention conditions, provide adequate healthcare, enhance nutrition, ensure cleanliness, and allow regular communication with the outside world.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of all deaths in prisons and transparently publish investigation results detailing the circumstances.
- Allow local and international human rights organizations to visit prisons and assess detainees’ conditions.
We affirm that the continuation of these repressive policies will only exacerbate humanitarian and social crises. We call on the international community and human rights institutions to pressure Egyptian authorities to stop these blatant violations, which negatively impact Egypt’s international reputation.
Signatories:
– The Committee for Justice (CFJ).
– Al-Shehab for Human Rights.
– Egyptian Network for Human Rights.
– Jawar.
– Najda for Human Rights.
