Arab Organisation for Human Rights UK (AOHR UK) stated that the death of the opposition journalist, Mohamed Mounir, revealed the Ministry of the Interior’s false claims about measures taken to combat the spread of the virus in prisons. Mounir 65, died on Monday 13th July, a few days after his release, due to having been infected with Coronavirus whilst in prison.
AOHR UK added that the Egyptian authorities had arrested Mounir in mid-June, detaining him in Al-Talbiyah Police Station before transferring him to Tora Prison Hospital when he became ill with COVID-19
AOHR UK pointed out that it had received reports from Egyptian detainees concerning the spread of Coronavirus within many Egyptian detention facilities in Egypt. The most recent reports refer to the Wadi Al-Natron prisons, inside which whole wards were infected due to prison administrations taking no measures to isolate or treat infected detainees. The number of deaths among detainees increased to 15 people,w as a result of the spread of the epidemic inside various Egyptian detention facilities, yet the Egyptian authorities refuse to reveal the actual numbers of those infected.
AOHR UK holds the Egyptian authorities entirely responsible for the protection and safety of the lives of detainees.
AOHR UK reiterates its calls on authorities to implement the recommendations of the World Health Organization to reduce the number of detainees to a minimum, and to provide health care as well as an appropriate environment for the detained in accordance with the necessary health standards.
