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Detainees of 76 prisons and detention facilities will join the prisoners' uprising

November 17, 2014 at 12:22 pm

The Higher Committee for the Prison Uprising in Egypt has announced that, so far, prisoners being held at 76 different detention facilities across the country have confirmed that they will be joining the third prisoners’ uprising, including those in the following facilities: Tora, Abu Zaabal, Minya, Borj Al-Arab, Wady Al-Natron, Abaadiyah, Mostaqbal, Pubic Qena, Assiout, and Port Said, as well as the women’s prison in Qanater, the Marg Penal Institution and the Minors’ centre at Kom Al-Dekka, Rassd news agency reported on Sunday.

“The third uprising,” Rassd quoted the High Committee as saying in a statement, “is meant to reach a new escalation after two previous uprisings. Detainees will start a complete higher strike starting the first day of the uprising, 18 November. All options are on the table so as to compel the regime to implement the detainees’ legitimate demands, which are [as follows]: an end to politicised trials for detainees; the immediate release of all detainees who were not brought to trial or to the General Prosecution; an end to all forms of torture and physical and mental violations against detainees; providing appropriate medical care for sick and elderly detainees and those with special needs; and stopping the violations committed against the minors detained in penal institutions and care homes.”

“Since 3 July 2013, 89 detainees have died in prison as a result of medical negligence and torture. It is estimated that around 42,000 detainees have been arrested so far, including 60 women who are still under arrest until now. Detainees include 734 minors. These figures are greater than figures of Arab detainees in Israeli jails,” the statement read.

“The number of families that have announced their solidarity with detained family members has reached 12,000, with a total of more than 65,000 individuals who will start a full hunger strike in solidarity with the third prison uprising. This is unprecedented. More than 5,000 activists have announced on the internet their solidarity with the uprising by taking a ‘freedom selfie’ and posting in on various pages and websites.”

The Higher Committee listed the many violations that detainees are subjected to – torture, solitary confinement, confiscation and destruction of personal belongings and banning visits. “This will not deter the detainees or their families from continuing with their revolutionary struggle and demanding their right to life and freedom,” the Higher Committee stated.

It also called on the administrators of the Borj Al-Arab and Akrab prisons in particular to stop the escalation of “terrorist” practices against detainees, warning them that they would be legally pursued, internationally and at home, for torturing and murdering prisoners.