Amnesty International has recently called on Egyptian authorities to halt their alleged retaliatory actions against hunger-striking prisoners at the 10th of Ramadan Prison. These detainees are protesting against what they describe as arbitrary detention under oppressive conditions. This development was reported by JURIST.
According to Mahmoud Shalaby, an Egypt researcher at Amnesty International, rather than addressing the squalid conditions at the 10th of Ramadan Prison, the authorities have responded to prisoner protests with punitive measures. Inmates are said to suffer from mistreatment in facilities that are ostensibly modern, with little oversight to hold authorities accountable.
Amnesty International has pointed out that the prison conditions are inconsistent with the Mandela Rules, which require that inmates are allowed daily outdoor exercise. Prisoners are reportedly confined to their cells for 23 hours daily, receiving just one hour of exercise in a corridor inside the building. The hunger strike involves several political detainees at the Reform and Rehabilitation Center within the prison, and was initiated in response to prolonged pretrial detention without a strong legal basis and inadequate living conditions.
The detainees have previously implored Egypt’s Public Prosecutor to visit the prison for an inspection, voice their grievances, and investigate allegations against the prison administration. These requests were dismissed by the Supreme State Security Prosecution and the Cairo Criminal Court during the renewal sessions for pretrial detention.
In reaction to such concerns, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released a statement on January 12, 2025, echoing the worries about worsening prison conditions. This statement precipitated an investigation by Egyptian prosecutors against Hossam Bahgat, the executive director of EIPR, on charges of “spreading false news” and “aiding and funding a terrorist group.” Human Rights Watch has also weighed in, urging Egyptian authorities to abandon terrorism-related charges against Bahgat to protect human rights defenders.