Egypt: Six detainees die in one week at detention centre
Six detainees have died in one week at a detention centre in the al-Sharqia governorate in Egypt, the Egyptian Network for Human Rights (ENHR) has reported.
On Monday, 49-year-old Mohamed Farouk Hussein became the sixth detainee to die in pre-trial detention at the Zagazig detention facility, reportedly because of his deteriorating health amid high temperatures and overcrowding.
According to ENHR, Hussein had been suffering from chest pains and breathlessness for several weeks. He had repeatedly requested to see a specialist doctor or to be transferred to a hospital, but was refused by the detention centre authorities.
He was finally transferred to Zagazig hospital where he died on Monday.
His death follows that of five other detainees who died at the centre in the last week, all within 48 hours, according to ENHR.
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In a statement, the group said that the deaths were caused by “suffocation” as a result of overcrowding, soaring temperatures, poor ventilation and dehydration.
They noted that the detention authorities only distribute water for two hours a day, leading to deteriorating hygiene conditions in the cells and promoting the spread of disease.
'These deaths represent a microcosm of the severe violations occurring in police detention centres in Egypt'
- Ahmed el-Attar, Egyptian Network for Human Rights
“These deaths represent a microcosm of the severe violations occurring in police detention centres in Egypt, amidst a complete lack of oversight and inspection by the responsible authorities,” Ahmed el-Attar, executive director of the ENHR told MEE.
“All detainees suffer from severe overcrowding, with occupancy rates in some places reaching up to 300 percent of the normal capacity of the detention rooms.
“This highlights a pressing need for immediate action to address these conditions, ensure proper oversight, and hold those responsible for these human rights abuses accountable.”
According to ENHR, in response to the deaths, the prison authorities installed air conditioning units in some cells, with detainees billed to cover the costs.
'If we complain, they beat us'
ENHR previously documented cases of sexual harassment and abuse of female detainees by senior male police officials at Zagazig detention centre.
One woman said in a testimony to ENHR that female detainees were routinely touched inappropriately when being searched by male police officers. She added that there were no female staff employed to oversee the women’s cells.
She also reported that female detainees do not file complaints out of fear of reprisals.
“If we complain, they insult us, beat us with sticks and turn out the lights,” she said. “Even the lawyers ask us to be silent to avoid problems.”
In its statement, ENHR said it “holds the Egyptian Ministry of Interior responsible for the deaths of detainees" and demanded immediate action to improve detention facilities as well as an independent investigation into the deaths of the detainees.
Since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi swept to power in a military coup in 2013, the number of political prisoners in Egyptian jails has swelled to an estimated 65,000, according to a study released by the Arabic Network for Human Rights in March 2021.
Since then, hundreds have perished in prison due to medical negligence, including former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and former MP Essam el-Erian.
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