2 Egyptians die in detention following 'medical negligence'

Two Egyptians yesterday died in jail as a result of their “deteriorating health conditions”, local media reported.

One of the detainees was identified as 61-year-old Ibrahim Al-Batea, who died of “a stroke due to medical negligence in the Kafr Saqr Police Department in Egypt’s Shareya Governorate,” according to local sources.

The sources pointed out that Al-Batea was moved to the intensive care unit in hospital, where he died, after a number or appeals to the prison administration by his family.

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The second detainee, 58-year-old Magdi Taha Al-Qalawi, was said to have died inside the country’s Shebin El-Koum prison following “constant medical negligence”.

Since incumbent President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi led a military coup in 2013, Egyptian authorities have launched an unprecedented crackdown on dissent, arresting, detaining and forcefully disappearing thousands on political grounds.

Egypt continues to detain around 60,000 political prisoners. They are subjected to systematic torture and, in particular women, sexual violence including rape, the threat of rape and indecent body searches.

In January last year, Al-Sisi claimed there were no political prisoners in Egypt, despite the numerous reports from rights groups stating the contrary.