Amnesty International condemned the Egyptian authorities for retaliating against detainees in 10th of Ramadan Prison who protested poor conditions through a hunger strike. Following their actions, some were transferred to harsher facilities. The organization has called for humane treatment and international oversight of detention standards, arguing for compliance with international law.
Amnesty International has urged Egyptian authorities to cease reprisals against inmates at 10th of Ramadan Prison, who engaged in a hunger strike to protest their arbitrary detention. Initiated in early January, this hunger strike drew attention to the inhumane conditions experienced by the prisoners and their demands for rights such as outdoor exercise, visitation rights, and the replacement of a National Security Agency officer accused of abuse.
In retaliation, authorities allegedly transferred three prisoners to facilities known for severe treatment, along with the confiscation of their personal belongings. Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt Researcher at Amnesty International, stated that rather than improving conditions, officials are punishing dissenters: “Instead of addressing the abysmal detention conditions in the 10th of Ramadan Prison, the authorities are trying to silence prisoners protesting these conditions by punishing them.”
Shalaby emphasized the need for Egypt to enhance prisoner conditions and allow international observers in detention centers, insisting that the regime should abide by international laws. He noted, “The Egyptian authorities must ensure that conditions of detention are humane and in line with international law and standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules.”
Families of detainees reported that their loved ones were transferred to facilities far from home as a form of punishment, a tactic known in Egypt as “Taghriba” or internal exile. One relative recounted that a prisoner was denied medical treatment after allegedly attempting to contact his political party for assistance.
Despite being inaugurated in 2023 as a modern solution to improve detention conditions, 10th of Ramadan Prison has been criticized for its treatment of inmates since the military coup in 2013 that led to widespread detentions of political dissenters. Following comments by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights regarding the prison’s conditions, an investigation into their director was initiated, suggesting further suppression of reports on human rights abuses.
Amnesty International’s research across 16 Egyptian prisons has revealed the harsh reality of torture and cruel treatment specifically targeting prisoners of conscience, while systematically denying them medical care as further punishment for opposing the regime.
The situation within 10th of Ramadan Prison highlights serious human rights abuses tolerated by Egyptian authorities. Detainees protesting their circumstances have faced punitive measures, exacerbating the already dire conditions in prisons. Continued calls by organizations such as Amnesty International stress the importance of humane treatment in detention facilities and the necessity for oversight by independent observers. The broader implications of the Egyptian government’s actions emphasize the critical need for reforms in the treatment of political prisoners.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
