The number of Egyptian detainee victims is increasing as a result of the regime’s continued abuses, which include deliberate medical negligence and unfavorable detention conditions.
In this context, Ahmed Muhammad Abu Al-Yazid Al-Beltagy, a 33-year-old political prisoner from the city of Zagazig in the Sharkia Governorate, died in Abu Zaabal prison.
El-Beltagy’s health condition declined after his arrest in October 2023 as a result of the appalling detention conditions and the denial of necessary medical care.
Following three months of suffering, El-Beltagy was moved by the prison authorities to a hospital after his serious health deterioration. His family was then notified of his death without being given any information regarding the cause of death.
Upon his arrest, Al-Beltagy was subjected to enforced disappearance for 20 days in one of the National Security headquarters, before he was appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in very difficult health conditions, as a result of the severe physical and psychological torture to which he was subjected. He was investigated and detained for 15 days pending case No. 2902 of 2023, Supreme State Security, before being moved to Abu Zaabal prison.
Al-Beltagy is the eighth prisoner to die in Egyptian prisons since the start of the year.
It is important to note that Egyptian prisons usually lack basic health needs, such as exercise, proper lighting and ventilation, human toilets large enough for the number of inmates, wholesome food, and clean facilities. Based on the testimonies of former political prisoners, human rights assertions state that the majority of the prisoners also experience severe overcrowding of prisoners within places of detention.
It should be recalled that “prisoners deprived of their liberty should be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human personality,” according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
