The health of Qaradawi’s daughter deteriorates behind bars in Egypt

The family of Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, has revealed that the health of his daughter imprisoned in Egypt has “deteriorated seriously”, Al-Arab newspaper reported on Tuesday. A statement from the family put the blame for this on the Egyptian authorities.

Ola Al-Qaradawi, 55, has been remanded in custody by an Egyptian court for a couple of months, as has her husband Hussam Khalaf, 58. Her situation is described by her family as “slow killing behind bars.”

Although Al-Arab did not carry a comment by the Egyptian authorities on the situation, it pointed out that the government always insists that it offers satisfactory healthcare for all prisoners.

On Sunday, an Egyptian court renewed the detention of Ola Al-Qaradawi for another 15 days. A similar decision on her husband was deferred until today (Wednesday). When she heard this decision, she fainted in court, said her family. “She is worried about her own life,” explained the family, “due to the inhumane detention conditions and inhumane treatment that she is facing.”

Read: Egypt prosecutors extend detention of Qaradawi’s daughter

Family lawyer Ahmed Abul-Ola Madi said that he asked the Public Prosecution to send Ola Al-Qaradawi to the hospital due to the deterioration of her health, but the Public Prosecution only said that it would study the request.

Ola and her husband are accused of being “members of an illegal organisation” — a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in Egypt — and for “planning terrorist action against the security of public institutions.”

Anadolu news agency said that the couple were arrested on 23 June near Sahel Al-Shamali on Egypt’s northern coast, while on holiday for Eid Al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.