Amnesty International Calls for Action Against Detainee Punishments in Egypt

Amnesty International has urged Egyptian authorities to stop punishing detainees at 10th of Ramadan Prison who protested their poor conditions through a hunger strike. The authorities responded by transferring several detainees to harsher prisons and confiscating their belongings. Human rights advocates stress the need for humane treatment and oversight, as numerous political opponents remain imprisoned under repressive conditions without proper care or legal rights management.

Amnesty International has called on Egyptian authorities to cease reprisals against detainees at 10th of Ramadan Prison, who engaged in a hunger strike protesting their arbitrary detention. The hunger strike, initiated in early January, aimed to highlight the cruel conditions faced by the prisoners, seeking the release of those in pretrial detention for over six months, outdoor exercise, full visitation rights, and the removal of an alleged abusive National Security Agency (NSA) officer.

Following the hunger strike, authorities took punitive measures by transferring at least three detainees to prisons known for severe conditions and confiscating their personal belongings. Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt researcher at Amnesty International, criticized the authorities for attempting to silence prisoners protesting their treatment without addressing the actual issues. He corroborated that, even in newly constructed facilities like the 10th of Ramadan Prison, detainees continue to face abuse.

Shalaby emphasized the necessity for the Egyptian government to enhance detention conditions in accordance with international standards, specifically the Nelson Mandela Rules. He reiterated calls for independent observers to be granted unrestricted access to monitor the conditions in prisons.

Family members of the transferred detainees reported that their relatives were relocated to prisons situated hundreds of kilometers away, a common punitive tactic known as “Taghriba.” One family member expressed concern that a relative was denied essential medical treatment and transferred to another facility, allegedly as punishment for seeking help from a political party.

Despite being inaugurated in 2023 amidst official assertions of improved detention conditions, 10th of Ramadan Prison has become emblematic of abuses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime. Since the 2013 coup that ousted Mohamed Morsi, many political opponents have been imprisoned under pretexts that are frequently cited as inflated charges.

Moreover, following an EIPR statement regarding worsening prison conditions in January, an investigation was launched against its executive director for purportedly “spreading false news” and “aiding a terrorist group.” Amnesty International’s research on 16 prisons across the nation reveals that Egyptian officials routinely subject political detainees to torture and inhumane treatment while depriving them of requisite healthcare.

In conclusion, the situation for detainees in Egyptian prisons, particularly at 10th of Ramadan Prison, remains dire, as exemplified by the punitive measures against those protesting their conditions. Amnesty International’s appeal highlights the urgent need for humane treatment within detention facilities and greater oversight by independent observers. Continuous human rights violations, such as forced transfers and medical neglect, underscore the broader issues faced by political prisoners in Egypt under the current regime. Immediate action to rectify these abuses is necessary to align Egypt’s practices with international standards.

Original Source: www.newarab.com