Detainees to begin hunger strike in Egypt prisons

The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association (FEDA) have expressed grave concern with the widespread abuse and violations taking place in Egyptian prisons. A press statement issued by the organization on Monday revealed that large numbers of detainees have decided to carry out a hunger strike on 7^th, 8^th and 9^th October in protest against these violations and in demand of their legitimate rights, foremost among them being the right to freedom.

In parallel with calls for the hunger strike and the postponement of the implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Law, a number of families of detainees living outside Egypt in several countries took part in an online meeting convened on Sunday by FEDA, with the participation of a number of heads of human rights organisations.

During the meeting, the participants explained that this legitimate hunger strike was called for after thousands of pretrial detainees had lost hope of being released, despite having spent periods in detention several times longer than the legally prescribed maximum period for pretrial detention. It also followed repeated attempts by detainees to engage with prison administrations in order to end the violations they have been subjected to, which have escalated to the point of physical assaults and denial of medical care, resulting in the deaths of some detainees.

Participants in the meeting expressed their full solidarity with the hunger strikers and their determination to stand behind them, using all available means of media, human rights, and political support until they achieve their freedom and return to their homes with dignity and honour.

The families also called on the Egyptian authorities to address the causes of growing tension inside prisons and to grant detainees the rights guaranteed to them under the law and prison regulations. They called for a comprehensive review of the condition of pretrial detainees and the release of those who have exceeded the legally prescribed period of pretrial detention. They further called for an immediate halt to the continuing violations against other political prisoners, and for the release of women, elderly detainees, and those suffering from serious illnesses, as a step toward completely emptying Egypt’s prisons of political detainees and turning the page on a dark chapter in the country’s history.

The families also called on the Public Prosecutor to organise urgent visits to prisons where tensions are particularly high and calls for hunger strikes are intensifying, to listen directly to prisoners, address the causes of their anger and frustration, require prison administrations to comply with their own regulations, and put an end to the violations committed against detainees.

The families urged human rights organisations and Egyptian and international media outlets to intensify their efforts to document violations in Egyptian prisons, exhort the Egyptian authorities to immediately halt these violations, and mobilise solidarity in support of the legitimate demands of those who intend to take part in the hunger strike.