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The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights reports |
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2002-1-23
report
" Tuberculosis ….. The slow death in the prisons of El Wadi El Gadeed and Damanhour"
Introduction The Egyptian Organization For Human Rights issues its report on " Tuberculosis …. The slow death in the prisons of El Wadi El Gadeed and Damanhour" in the context of the campaign launched by EOHR to stop the ill-treatment of the prisoners in the Egyptian prisons. EOHR began its campaign since 1991 and issued 10 reports in which the EOHR work field unit documented and monitored the bad living conditions in the Egyptian prisons and the lack of medical care as well as the basic rights of the prisoners. These reports are: 1. Human Rights Violations in Egyptian Prisons: The Model of the Tora Prisons Complex, 4/8/1991. 2. Prisoners Without Rights, 6/9/1994. 3. Alienation (Al-Taghrieb), 18/9/1995. 4. Death or Madness Threaten Four Thousand Prisoners at Al-Fayoum Prison, 25/5/1996. 5. The High Security Prison, a Graveyard for Prisoners, 3/9/1996. 6. Poor Health Conditions in Egyptian Prisons - A Deliberate Violation of the Right to Life, 12/2/1997. 7. Awaiting Death - An EOHR report on medical conditions in Egyptian prisons, 29/12/1997. 8. Detained forever - An EOHR report on prison conditions in Wadi Al-Natroun I and II, 2/3/1998. 9. Empty Stomachs- An EOHR report on the condition in Abu Zaabal prisons on 30/4/1998. 10. Death in Silence and Seclusion - An EOHR report on the gross violations of the right of prisoners and detainees to medical care on 16/8/1998. The present report relies on live testimonies of prisoners, their families and lawyers as well as on field research by the members of the EOHR's field Work Unit. The report includes documented information about 273 cases of sick prisoners. However, these cases constitute only a limited sample of the hundreds on which the EOHR has received information from the prisoners of EL Wadi El Gadeed and Damnhour prisons. EOHR regret to say all the information it received indicate the deterioration of the prisons in Egypt especially the lack of medical care , the overcrowded cells , the lack of proper hygiene, insufficient and inadequate food, unclean water, and lack of proper ventilation and of recreational activities as well as the negligence of the prison doctors, the worsening conditions of prison hospitals and their lack of medicine. The situation is aggravated by the isolation imposed by the Ministry of the Interior on some prisons for a long time so the prisons do not receive their medicine from their families. Furthermore, the Prison Directorate can prevent the prisoners from receiving necessary care as a tool of collective punishment. On the other hand , EOHR can not disregard the step forwarded by the ministry of interior to abolish the lashing penalty which was used as a tool of punishment. This penalty was mentioned in article 43 of paragraph 7 of law no. 396 of 1956 that stated that lashing can be used as a disciplinary punishment. However, in the People's Assembly session dated 22nd December 2001, a decision was issued to drop this penalty which was in conflict with the simple human rights and which was used as a tool of revealing revenge , pain as well as disgracing humanity . EOHR still calls for the amendment of the internal regulations of the prisons issued by the decree no. 79 of 1961 to conform to the International Instruments of the prisoners. The report is divided into three sections which are : Section one: The legislative framework. Section two: The conditions within El Wadi Gadeed and Damnhour prison. Section three: The recommendations. Introduction| Section 1| Section 2| List| Section 3 |
Introduction Section 1 Section 2 List Section 3  Prisons 2002
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