Amnesty International Urges Egypt to End Retaliation Against Hunger Strike Protesters

Amnesty International calls for the cessation of retaliation against hunger-striking prisoners in Egypt, protesting their detention and harsh conditions. Mahmoud Shalaby emphasizes the need to address mistreatment instead of punishment. Conditions at the facility violate international rules, while legal actions against human rights defenders raise alarms about their safety.

Amnesty International has urged the Egyptian government to halt retaliatory measures against prisoners at the 10th of Ramadan Prison, where detainees are conducting a hunger strike. This protest is against their arbitrary detention and the inhumane conditions they face while imprisoned.

Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt Researcher at Amnesty International, noted that authorities are opting to punish those protesting rather than addressing the dire conditions inside the prison. Despite the building being modern, inmates suffer from mistreatment and lack oversight, which significantly affects their well-being.

Inmates are denied access to sunlight, as they are not permitted to exercise outdoors daily, violating the Mandela Rules. They are confined to their cells for 23 hours a day, receiving only one hour of exercise in a corridor that does not provide adequate conditions for physical activity.

The hunger strike, which commenced in January, was initiated by political detainees protesting prolonged pretrial detention without justification and poor living conditions. These individuals previously sought intervention from Egypt’s Public Prosecutor, hoping for an inspection to address their grievances, but their requests were ignored by the relevant authorities.

On January 12, 2025, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released a statement regarding the grave conditions at the prison. Following this, human rights defender Hossam Bahgat faced an investigation for allegedly spreading false information, after being interrogated by the Supreme State Security Prosecution without clear charges against him. Human Rights Watch has called for these charges to be dropped to safeguard activists advocating for human rights.

In summary, Amnesty International has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of prisoners on hunger strike at the 10th of Ramadan Prison. Authorities are encouraged to rectify the deplorable conditions that have led to such protests. The situation is further complicated by the intimidation of human rights defenders, underscoring the urgent need for accountability within the Egyptian justice system.

Original Source: www.jurist.org