The conditions of prisons and detention centers in Egypt continue to show serious human rights violations, as many political detainees endure ill-treatment, including physical torture and intentional medical neglect, which poses a significant threat to their lives.
Political detainee Sheikh Fadl Salim Mahmoud, 64, died in Minya Prison after enduring prolonged physical and psychological torture, as well as medical negligence.
Sheikh Fadl is a former agent of an Azhari Institute in the Minya Governorate. He turned himself in to the authorities after they threatened to arrest his son and fabricate charges against him. Unfortunately, he was subjected to severe torture at the Deir Mawas Police Station, which resulted in his paralysis.
He was later transferred to Minya Prison in a worsening health condition. Despite suffering a stroke and memory loss, he did not receive necessary medical care and remained bedridden throughout his detention until his death.
The torture and medical negligence suffered by Sheikh Fadl Salim Mahmoud constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including the Convention against Torture and the Nelson Mandela Rules, which guarantee that prisoners are treated with respect for their human dignity.
The death of Sheikh Fadl highlights the necessity of an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest, torture, and death. Those responsible for these serious violations must be held accountable. This situation also emphasizes the urgent need to reform Egypt’s criminal justice system and to ensure that human rights are respected within detention centers, in order to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
