- EGYPT
- June 3, 2016
- 2 minutes read
Coup Prison Authorities in Aqrab Detainee Starvation, Brutality Campaign
Continuing the coup Interior Ministry’s systematic torture against Aqrab Prison detainees, officers ban foods brought in by visiting family members, except for one small meal that is certainly not enough for any adult – saying they have "new strict instructions". Incidentally, all other items brought in are now banned for absurd reasons.
Notably, since the re-opening of visits on May 22, Aqrab detainees’ families have been suffering tremendous difficulties in the new system invented by prison officials making it almost impossible for them to visit their loved ones. To start with, only 20 or 30 inmates are allowed a visit per day, although over 1000 prisoners are held at Aqrab. Moreover, authorities only allow visits after advance booking; otherwise, families who do not have a booking for a visit are turned away from the Tora Prison Complex gate, even those who come from remote provinces.
Therefore, in violation of all relevant laws and prison regulations, a detainee at Aqrab is now entitled to only one visit every three weeks. Families trying to book earlier than that are turned away. This violates families’ right to visit relatives detained at Aqrab.