Solitary confinement can last for years in Egypt’s prisons

The words of an Egyptian child whose father endures the anguish of imprisonment tell us a lot about the current state of Egypt. “For the first time, my father is fasting Ramadan in solitary confinement,” said Amjad Ali. I have changed the child’s name for his protection. Perhaps he can find some solace in the fact that his father’s circumstances, although difficult, may be comparatively better than those of others who have been held in solitary confinement for years, despite their advanced age and serious health problems.

Hundreds of opposition figures, academics, human rights defenders and journalists are held in solitary confinement in Egyptian prisons, detained on politically-motivated charges, with no clear timeline for their release.

Ever since the ousting of democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi on 3 July, 2013, by Egypt’s then Defence Minister and current President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi — who is now serving his third term until 2030 — solitary confinement has been employed systematically as a disciplinary measure against leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, members of the April 6 Movement, and other liberal and leftist activists. This punishment is used frequently against those who protest against prison conditions or to coerce detainees into making confessions.

According to Amnesty International, solitary confinement is a widespread practice in Egyptian prisons, where inmates are deprived of human contact and subjected to harsh and inhumane conditions. While Article 43 of Egypt’s Prison Regulation Law of 1956 permits authorities to place an inmate in a high-security solitary cell for no more than six months, this measure has increasingly been applied indefinitely.

The extreme conditions within solitary confinement can lead to severe psychological distress, suicidal ideation, drastic weight loss and serious health deterioration.

Former detainee Mohamed Sayed described his solitary confinement experience as a slow and painful death, telling the independent news platform Darag: “I never imagined spending 24 hours entirely alone, with no one to talk to. I eat in isolation, and the only information I receive about the outside world comes from the brief 30-minute exercise period. I would speak repeatedly to the prison guard assigned to my ward, simply to maintain my sanity and have some human interaction.”

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A human rights source, who requested anonymity, reported that many individuals labelled as “terrorist elements” are subjected to 22 hours of solitary confinement daily, with only a limited window for exercise. The Egyptian government under Al-Sisi has designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, banning all of its activities and confiscating its assets.

Among the most prominent political figures in solitary confinement is Dr Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, 74, a former presidential candidate and leader of the Strong Egypt Party. Aboul Fotouh has been in solitary confinement for more than seven years since his arrest on 14 February, 2018. Even during his designated exercise period, he is kept alone to prevent him from interacting with other prisoners. According to his family, he has suffered multiple heart attacks while in custody. The former Secretary-General of the Arab Doctors’ Union is allowed one visit per month, lasting just 20 minutes and conducted behind a glass partition, with only one family member present. All of his communications with his family and lawyer are subject to state surveillance.

The conditions are even more severe for Islamic scholar Hazem Abu Ismail, 64, who has spent 12 consecutive years in solitary confinement since his arrest on 5 July, 2013. His lawyer reports that he has been denied visits, exercise and interaction with fellow inmates.

Naglaa Salama is an artist and the wife of economist Dr Abdel Khalek Farouk. She described to the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) her husband’s suffering in the 10th of Ramadan Prison complex in Sharqia Governorate: “My husband is 67, and has not seen sunlight [while in the prison]. He is prohibited from mingling with other prisoners, his exercise time is limited to one hour per day, and he is denied access to pens and paper, which has negatively impacted his health,”

Other prominent political figures in solitary confinement include former Minister of Youth and Sports Osama Yassin, detained since 26 August, 2013, and former Minister of Supply Bassem Ouda, imprisoned since 12 November, 2013.

Senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood also endure prolonged solitary confinement, including Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, 82; his deputies Khairat El-Shater, 75, and Rashad Bayoumi, 90; alongside other high-ranking officials and ministers from Morsi’s administration.

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In 2023, activists circulated leaked videos purportedly depicting inhumane conditions inside solitary confinement cells at Badr Prison near Cairo, where three Brotherhood leaders were being held. However, Egypt’s Interior Ministry denied the authenticity of these videos, claiming that all inmates in the country’s “reform and rehabilitation centres” receive full medical care.

The Egyptian authorities do not disclose official statistics regarding the number of prisoners held in solitary confinement or provide details of their detention conditions. However, in some cases, solitary confinement has persisted for years.

It is a practice which Amnesty International deems to be a form of torture.

Anas El-Beltagy, the son of senior Muslim Brotherhood figure Mohamed El-Beltagy, has endured solitary confinement, visit bans and other inhumane conditions for nearly 11 years in six different prisons, according to human rights reports.

Political detainees attempt to preserve a sense of normality by observing the fast of Ramadan behind bars, engaging in prayer, Qur’an recitation and spiritual supplications. Many complete the memorisation of the entire Qur’an, while others enrol in religious and academic courses, provided that an expert in the field is a fellow detainee.

Ahmed Mostafa, also a pseudonym, spent four years in prison and fasted during Ramadan while there. He reported persistent mistreatment and violations, including detainees being placed in punishment cells without regard for the sanctity of the holy month. “If visits were allowed,” he added, “we received nutritious food from our families. Otherwise, our iftar and suhoor [food to break the daily fast at sunset and to have before it starts before dawn] consist of nothing more than cheese and jam, no vegetables, no consideration for fasting prisoners.

Guards do not care about the sanctity of Ramadan or anything else.

Under UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, solitary confinement should be an exceptional disciplinary measure and must not exceed 15 days. However, the Egyptian authorities frequently impose solitary confinement arbitrarily and without judicial oversight.

According to legal expert Gamal Al-Masry, prisoners of conscience face more than just physical torture; they also endure prolonged solitary confinement aimed at psychological destruction, leaving them deeply traumatised even after their release.

In March 2015, Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) acknowledged in an official statement that “disciplinary cells fail to meet minimum living standards,” according to local media reports.

Al-Masry stressed that the expansion of solitary confinement has led to a broad consensus among reform, health, legal and human rights organisations about the urgent need to limit its use for all detainees significantly. Standard guidelines should be established, ensuring that solitary confinement is only applied to individuals who pose a threat to other inmates or themselves, with a maximum duration of 15 days. Furthermore, it must be implemented while upholding human dignity, guaranteeing access to healthcare, legal protection, the right to inspections and thorough investigations into complaints filed by victims and their families.

While the Egyptian authorities claim frequently that they are committed to modernising the penal system in line with local and international human rights standards, such promises have yet to result in meaningful reforms, particularly regarding solitary confinement and disciplinary detention.

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