Amnesty International has called on Egyptian authorities to stop retaliating against hunger-striking prisoners at the 10th of Ramadan Prison, where inmates face harsh conditions and lack of sunlight. The strike, initiated by political detainees, protests against arbitrary detention. Human rights defender Hossam Bahgat is facing charges following an EIPR statement on prison conditions.
Amnesty International has issued a call to the Egyptian authorities, urging them to halt their retaliatory measures against prisoners at the 10th of Ramadan Prison who have initiated a hunger strike. These detainees are protesting against their arbitrary detentions and enduring harsh, inhumane conditions of confinement.
Mahmoud Shalaby, the Egypt Researcher at Amnesty International, has remarked on the issue, stating that rather than addressing the dire conditions of detention, authorities are retaliating against protests through punitive measures. He emphasized that mistreatment persists even in modern facilities like the 10th of Ramadan Prison, where prison officials operate with minimal oversight and accountability.
Amnesty International reports that inmates lack access to sunlight and exercise as per the Mandela Rules. They are confined to their cells for 23 hours daily, permitted only one hour of exercise in a building corridor.
The hunger strike began in January among several political detainees at the Reform and Rehabilitation Center in response to indefinite pretrial detention and deplorable living conditions. These detainees had appealed to the Public Prosecutor for an inspection but were ignored by the authorities during pretrial renewal sessions.
In light of worsening conditions at the 10th of Ramadan 6 Prison, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) released a statement on January 12, 2025. Following this, prosecutors launched an investigation into prominent human rights defender Hossam Bahgat on claims of spreading false news and supporting terrorism.
Bahgat was summoned for interrogation by the Supreme State Security Prosecution for over three hours without clarity on the investigation’s nature. Human Rights Watch has urged Egyptian authorities to dismiss the terrorism-related accusations against Bahgat, underscoring the necessity of safeguarding human rights defenders.
The situation in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan Prison remains dire, with prisoners subjected to retaliatory actions after initiating a hunger strike to protest against their conditions. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations are pressing for accountability and an end to the mistreatment of inmates. The investigation into Hossam Bahgat highlights the risks faced by human rights advocates in Egypt as they battle for justice amidst increasing repression.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
