Egyptian teacher Magdy Abdullah, from Samalut Center in Minya Governorate, died in prison after being subjected to medical negligence. Abdullah was arrested last January over a political case related to the Samalut events, where he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Over the past month, his health situation deteriorated; he suffered a blood clot in his foot and was transferred to the prison hospital in Minya. Shortly after, he suffered a blood clot in the brain that caused hemiplegia. Abdullah was not given any medical attention despite his dire situation, which caused him to pass away on Sunday.
In a move that illustrates the brutality opponents endure even after they pass away, Abdullah’s family was forced to bury him right away after he was moved to Samalut General Hospital. Only four people were permitted to attend his funeral.
This incident reflects the recurring pattern of the Egyptian regime’s treatment of political prisoners and dissidents, who are left behind bars for years in harsh and degrading conditions, without the slightest medical care.
As per multiple human rights reports, the Egyptian government persists in holding thousands of dissidents in deplorable conditions that worsen their health and leave them susceptible to illnesses and injuries that could result in death due to intentional disregard.
This tragedy comes as part of a long series of cases that demonstrate the failure of the Egyptian judicial system to protect the rights of detainees and ensure their safety, which calls for urgent international intervention to put an end to these ongoing violations of human rights in Egypt.
