MIDDLE EAST (Washington Insider Magazine) – Allegations of human rights abuses in Egyptian prisons are nothing new, but fresh light is now being shed on the accusations by some who have experienced it firsthand.
Ramy Shaath, a 50-year-old activist who held dual citizenship in Egypt and Palestine, was recently released from an Egyptian prison after more than 2 years of incarceration. He was accused of aiding a terrorist organization. However, formal charges were never brought against him.
Mr. Shaath was quite active in the Egyptian branch of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, which supports the complete boycotting of Israel because of its alleged poor treatment of Palestinians. His involvement in opposing the normalization movement of ties between several Arab states with Israel is what he believes ultimately landed him in prison.
In an interview with BBC, he claims that conditions in the prison were very bleak and that he himself was not tortured as other prisoners were, but he was blindfolded and handcuffed to a wall for three days. He stated, “…for me that’s torture. In Egyptian terms, though, this is actually VIP treatment.”
In the two and a half years of being in prison, he was only interrogated only once for 45 minutes and believes the incarceration was used as a punishment for being an activist. One of the main goals of the interrogators seemed to be collecting names of friends and family who also engaged in activist activities.
He is now in France with his wife, recuperating from his ordeal. One of the conditions of his release was that he had to relinquish his Egyptian citizenship.
Other reports cite many cases of abuse and the painful human toll being experienced by political prisoners under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Some of the offenses include being held for extended periods of time without charges being filed, and without trial, only to have the pre-trial clock starting over when the lawful period was up. Many prisoners are not allowed visits with family for years and are denied due process. In the case of businessman Azmeel Shaheen, who died in custody, the Egyptian Network for Human Rights (ENHR) claimed he was denied proper medications and medical care.
Amnesty International, in a report from January 2021, found that Egyptian authorities use the detention practice in an abusive manner, extending the detainment without any form of a formal trial. This may happen for any reason, including expressing their opinions, taking part in peaceful protests, doing media work, criticizing the authorities online, defending human rights or participating in politics.”
Other complaints on human rights violations include overuse of solitary confinement; inadequate food; severe overcrowding; delaying of proper healthcare; sexual harassment by prison staff; punishment for political reasons (i.e. withholding medication), and false statements to cover up poor prison conditions and practices.
In light of apparent validation by these third parties, it seems that prison reform legislation may be the key to the more humane treatment of Egyptian prison detainees. As all parties seek to find peace in the middle east, it is the hope of many that reform comes sooner rather than later.
