Egyptian prisons witnessed two deaths of political prisoners within just 24 hours, in a stark indication of the severe deterioration in detention conditions and the systematic absence of medical care. These incidents highlight an increasingly punitive environment in which deaths resulting from neglect have become disturbingly recurrent.
Khaled Al-Abyad, a political prisoner held for more than 12 years, died in Minya Prison following a severe health crisis during which he was left without treatment, despite repeated appeals from fellow detainees to transfer him to hospital.
Testimonies indicate that the prison administration ignored Al-Abyad’s rapidly worsening condition, leading to his death inside his cell. His family confirmed that he had no chronic illnesses prior to his arrest, and that the harsh health conditions inside prisons — coupled with direct medical neglect — were the primary reasons for his death.
His death came only hours after the passing of another political prisoner, Ibrahim Ahmed Abdul Rahman, known as “Abu Tasbeeh”, who was detained in Gamasa Prison and was over sixty years old.
Abdul Rahman had suffered a severe health crisis two months earlier, which was later revealed to be a gallbladder obstruction followed by serious complications, ultimately leading to the discovery of an advanced cancerous tumour. He received no appropriate early-stage treatment and was transferred to a hospital only at an extremely late stage, where he died as his condition continued to deteriorate.
These cases represent a clear violation of a state’s obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of detainees, including their right to medical care — an essential requirement under international law, which obliges authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent risks to the lives of persons deprived of liberty.
Obstructing medical treatment, delaying transfers, or ignoring medical distress calls are practices that directly contravene international standards for humane treatment, which require prompt, adequate, and effective medical care, and prohibit exposing detainees to suffering through neglect or deliberate denial of treatment.
The cases also breach basic health standards for detention, including the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which mandate proper medical care, timely transfer to hospitals when needed, and prohibit any obstruction or delay of treatment.
The deaths of Al-Abyad and Abdul Rahman reveal an entrenched and expanding pattern of systematic medical neglect in Egyptian prisons. Consistent testimonies refer to the denial of access to specialised doctors, refusal to transfer critical cases to equipped hospitals, and sluggish responses to emergencies.
The continued occurrence of these deaths, coupled with a lack of transparency regarding the circumstances, points to a complete absence of accountability within the prison system and a policy that directly contributes to the loss of life among detainees who have no means to protect themselves or secure essential treatment.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for independent and comprehensive investigations into the circumstances of death and the overall health conditions inside prisons, as well as ensuring accountability for those responsible for medical neglect or the deliberate withholding of treatment.
They also highlight the necessity of a fundamental overhaul of prison healthcare systems, guaranteeing the provision of real, rapid, and effective medical services, and protecting detainees from risks caused by neglect and the systematic failure to provide basic care.
