Egyptian detainee Ihab Masoud Ibrahim Goha, 51, died inside his cell in Borg El Arab Prison in Alexandria due to health deterioration caused by the harsh conditions of his detention and the lack of necessary medical care.
This is the latest case among many violations practiced against detainees in Egyptian prisons, especially those who suffer from chronic diseases and spend long periods in pretrial detention.
Ihab Goha was arrested on September 23, 2019 in the “Constitution Party Case,” on charges of joining an outlawed group, calling for demonstrations, and spreading false news, which are charges often directed by the Egyptian regime at its critics, in order to be able to abuse, arrest, and prosecute them.
Since his arrest, Goha has been held in pretrial detention in the notorious Borg El Arab Prison, where he was subjected to severe medical negligence despite his family’s repeated demands for him to have the appropriate treatment.
Earlier, his wife described him during a visit to him as “dying before my eyes” due to the deterioration of his health condition, which was exacerbated by his diabetes, in addition to other complications such as undergoing surgery to remove a cyst on his lung, and treating severe burns to his feet. He became unable to move and needed a wheelchair to move around, but the authorities refused to provide him with appropriate treatment, or take legal measures to guarantee his right to health care.
Ihab Goha was the assistant secretary of the Independence Party in Gharbia Governorate, a father of four, and worked as a sales representative before his arrest. His case represents a stark example of the suffering of thousands of political detainees who spend long years in pretrial detention in inhumane conditions, without being able to obtain a fair trial or be released despite their deteriorating health.
The tragic death comes at a sensitive time amid increased local and international calls to end prolonged pretrial detention, which is considered a violation of human rights and contradicts the principles of basic justice.
With the increasing deaths in custody, calls for justice and accountability are increasing, especially in light of the continued detention of many citizens in harsh detention conditions, in contradiction with the rights guaranteed to them under national and international laws.
