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The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights Annual report 1999-2000 |
eohr@eohr.org info@eohr.org
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Introduction
Section One Section Two : Section Three Section Four |
The Human Rights Situation in Egypt Violations of Human Rights 2000-2001 Fourth: The Treatment of Prisoners, Detainees, & Others ((A scream emanates from the graves of those living in a huge distant cave, far from sight in a place where no sounds are heard other than the sound of the crows who dwell within. Their bodies weakened, infected with dangerous diseases - tuberculosis, osteomalacia, kidney failure, palsy, rickets, dermatitis, and even leprosy - for they receive neither exposure to the sun nor fresh air.)) This passage from an inmate's novel describes conditions found within Egyptian prisons - specifically the Liman Abu Zaabal Prison where the inmate was detained. In light of the information collected by the EOHR for the years 1999-2000, from the reality of the conditions experienced by prisoners & described by their relatives, from interviews with inmates, and from the fact-finding missions sent to prisons - all these sources testify to the deteriorating conditions within Egyptian prisons. All these sources testify to the ill-treatment of prisoners and other detainees, the denial of inalienable human rights, as well as the disregard of international covenants guaranteeing human rights and of constitutional/legal/national rulings. The EOHR has monitored the following - First: The increase use of torture and ill-treatment. Second: The disregard to medical care in addition to the deteriorating living conditions, as well as malnutrition and the pollution of drinking water. Third: Denial of access to education. Fourth: Denial of visitations by family members. First- The Torture of Prisoners & other Detainees : The EOHR has, within the years 1999 & 2000, observed the continual occurrence of tortures, abuses, and ill-treatments within Egyptian prisons. It is a well-known fact that human rights are constantly violated within most Egyptian prisons, however, the two prisons of Liman Abu Zaabal & El Wadi el-Gedid stand out in revealing the horrifying extent of these violations. Inmates in both of the aforementioned prisons are regularly abused verbally and physically, beaten, tortured in order to keep the prisoners on order to upkeep the discipline - those who are considered to be undisciplined are often detained inommunicado. In addition to this the inmates in these prisons are often denied permission to meet visiting family members. Second: The Neglect of Medical Care- The living conditions within prisons are without a shadow of a doubt the direct cause of the spread of contagious diseases, outbreaks of different illnesses, and epidemics within prisons. These conditions are degrading to human dignity and deny the inmates their right to physical wellbeing. It is for this very reason that the International Charters and Covenants for human rights, as well as the National Legislative Articles have pledged to safeguard the living conditions of prisoners, inmates, or other detainees. These agreements, charters, and articles all guarantee that the standards of health and medical care within prisons are to be maintained at the same level as those available outside prison. Despite the fact that national legislative rulings have specified a number of regulations safeguarding the physical wellbeing & ensuring basic provisions of medical care, uniforms, blankets etc for inmates and political prisoners, the prison administrators and authorities often don't abide by these regulations. Prison administrators purposely fail to provide the basic medical provisions necessary for their physical wellbeing. The administrators neglect to pay attention to the medical requirements of prisoners and do not concern themselves with their physical condition; this neglect is very often the cause leading to the spread of illnesses and outbreaks of different diseases amongst prisoners. The EOHR verifies that the neglect & denial of medical care for inmates and detainees, has been, and still is a leading cause of the violation of several basic rights and freedoms of prisoners. The information received by the organization throughout the year 2000 reveals the realities of conditions within prisons. Reports received have explained that prison cells are very overcrowded - this factor in addition to the denial of medical provisions creates the ideal environment for outbreaks of diseases within prisons. The EOHR also notes that prisoners are denied hygienic living quarters and ventilation; they are also denied clean drinking water, and are underfed and malnourished - inmates are even forbidden from accessing medication and other vital provisions sent to them from friends and family members. Throughout the year 1999 the EOHR has reported the deaths of (8) prisoners due to the denial of medical care. Of the eight deaths (4) occurred within the Wadi el-Gedid Prison, another within the Torah Maximum Security Prison, two deaths in the Damanhour Prison, and one death within the Liman Torah Prison Hospital. The organization notes that despite the deteriorating conditions with prisons the issue has been ignored by both the prison administrators and by governmental authorities - and this in spite of Article 136 of Law396/1956 regarding the upkeep of prisons which stipulates that all prisoners have the right to medical attention if needed. Those deceased due to medical neglect include the following- 1. 'Abdel Nasser Mohammed Ahmed Born in Tamma, Sohag - died 19/06/99 - imprisoned 1994, detained and deceased in Wadi el-Gedid Prison - buried in family burial grounds in Sohag, heavy security presence during burial. 2. Waleed Khalaf Tawfiq Born in Tahta, Sohag - died 11/09/99 - imprisoned 1994, detained in Damanhour Prison - suffered from Psoriasis. 3. Mohammed Hafez 'Abdel Hameed 'Abdelghani Born in Akhmim, Sohag - died 23/12/99 - imprisoned 23/01/95, detained in Wadi el-Gedid Prison. 4. Mahdi Mustapha 'Abdel'awadi Born in Manaflout, Assiut - father of five - died 14/07/99 - detained in Al-Fayoum Prison - suffered from kidney infection spreading to spleen - died within Liman Torah Hospital Prison. 5. Seyyid 'Ali 'Abdallah Born in Maragha, Sohag - died 19/11/99 - detained and deceased in Torah Maximum Security Prison - suffered from diabetes - buried in family's burial grounds in Sohag, burial accompanied by presence of a large number of security personel. 6. 'Abdel Sattar Qasem Mohammed Born in Gerga, Sohag - died 29/09/99 - imprisoned since 1995, detained and died within Wadi el-Gedid Prison - suffered from tuberculosis and hemorrhoids. 7. Ahmed Mohammed Hanafi Hamed Born in Kom Omobo, Aswan - died 11/10/99 - imprisoned 11/11/95, detained in Wadi el-Gedid Prison - suffered from psychological illness. 8. Mahmoud 'Agami Muhalhel Muaawad Died 21/10/99 in Damanhour Prison. Conditions of a Number of those Suffering Ailments within Prisons 23 Names Third: Denial of Access to Education- The denial of the opportunity to continue education is considered to be a grave violation encountered by a large number of inmates within Egyptian prisons. The denial of this opportunity represents a clear violation of the constitution as is stipulated in Articles 38 & 42 of Law # 18 of the Prison Charter issued in December of the year 1949 as well as Ruling # 77 of the Model Rulings for the Treatment of Prisoners. These rulings were established to ensure that prison administrators abide by the principles enabling the inmate to practice his right to seek an education. Prison authorities, however, have constantly prevented inmates from continuing their education - the result is usually that inmates are denied the opportunity to continue or complete their education while serving their sentences. List of a Number of Inmates Names Prohibited from their Examinations for the Year 2000 12 Names Fourth- the restraints imposed upon inmates in receiving visitors & restraints imposed against communication with the outside world Within the years of 1999-2000 the EOHR has noted the continuation of the occurrence of imposing isolation upon the prisoners through the placing of restrictive measures regarding their visitations of family members, an act which violates Constitutional Rulings as well as the national laws and the International Agreements for Human Rights. It is also worth mentioning that family and friends are forbidden from visitations to the Torah Maximum Security Prison "'Aqrab" as well as the Istiqbal Torah Prison, and the Liman Abu Zaabal Prison. This denial of visitations has been enforced since the year 2000. The prisoners' families suffer the difficulties of travel and exhaustion from travelling long distances in order to receive prison visitation permits; and then again travelling even greater distances so as to visit prisons - especially when such prisons are located in very remote areas such as the Wadi el-Gedid Prison. The EOHR has noted that, from the nature of the complaints received through family members of inmates, that the prison administration's obstinacy in a few prisons in enforced sanctions against family members and visitors - for example: if four visitation permits are issued for the visitation of a prison only two of the four are permitted to visit despite the fact that they endured difficulties encountered during their travel to reach their destinations. Inmates' families also express the grievances regarding the short duration allocated for each visit - usually not exceeding five minutes per each visitation. In addition to this the visitors and inmates can neither hear nor be heard audibly - due to the great numbers of visitors crowding in to visit - all of whose voices simultaneously make communication between inmates and their visitors difficult and incomprehensible, the provisions delivered also cause difficulties hindered the facilitation of communication between inmates and their visitors. Fifth: The Punishment of Prisoners Presenting Grievances Regarding their Detainment When inmates' families present grievances against the verdict of imprisonment, and manage to have the court release their prisoner, this is marks the commencement of difficulties- 1- Regarding the prisoner, he/she is then transferred from the prison in which they were detained to a number of other prisons for an indefinite period of time during which the prisoner's term of imprisonment is renewed. The prisoners are usually then returned to their prison or sent to another prison in order to complete his/her term. 2- The prisoner is therefore not released from prison; on the contrary he/she is merely transferred to another prison cell. In such a case the prisoner is considered to be released (from his/her formal cell) and then his/her prison sentence is renewed. Regarding the Families of Inmates- The families of inmates are subjected to many hardships and suffering following the issuance of a decree freeing a prisoner - for they know not of the location of detention. Due to this reason, if an inmate's family visits his/her location of detention - following the issuance of his/her release - they usually are unable to locate the inmate's whereabouts. These families bear the burden of having to visit and search within different prisons in the hope of finding their missing family member, questioning about their whereabouts. Many of the inmates' families, after having been exposed to so many troubles & travails, have refrained from presenting their grievances regarding verdicts issued in the fear of having to bear the burdens of suffering, tension, anxiety, and the exhaustion which they are to face. |
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