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EOHR calls for an instant investigation
on the death of Akram Zohairy
10/6/2004
EOHR expresses its vehement anxiety as it received information from its sources concerning the death of eng/Akram Abel Aziz Zohairy, head of the cultural committee in the Engineers Syndicate and the director of "Al Mostashar" center for development, who died inside Tora prison.
Zohairy was arrested by the National Security officers as a part of their campaign against all the 58 convicts of case 462/2004.
The convicts belong to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.
Zohairy was interrogated by National Security, and while he was on his way back to Tora prison in the prison's truck, the driver stopped suddenly which caused Zohairy to hit the inside walls of the truck. Zohairy lost consciousness at once, and when he restored his consciousness he discovered that he can't move or stand up.
Zohairy was carried by the other prisoners, but the prison administration refused to receive him in these conditions until a report was written stating that he came to the prison in such deteriorating conditions.
Zohairy was locked up inside the prison in such conditions until he passed away on Tuesday 8/6/2004 late at night, or Wednesday 9/6/2004 early in the morning.
Some sources referred to the reckless treatment Zohairy received, as he was supposed to be transported to a hospital immediately.
EOHR calls for an investigation to determine who is responsible for these arbitrary procedures and not receiving the required treatment for his health conditions.
Accordingly, EOHR stresses on the importance of reforming the whole penal institution in Egypt and enhancing the prisons conditions to meet the minimum standards of humane imprisonment conditions according to international norms and documents.
EOHR also demands the replacement of the prison trucks which is totally inhumane with other trucks which is designed for human use.
EOHR demands the following from the Egyptian Government:
1- Putting prisons under the supervision of the judiciary, and apply the executive criminal judge system.
2- Prisons should fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice not the Ministry of Interiors.
3- Allowing the civil society institutions to visit prisons in Egypt to monitor the prisons and the prisoners' conditions.
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