An Egyptian detainee, who was set to be released, died after his health deteriorated while imprisoned in the North African country, causing concern among rights groups.
The 55-year-old, identified as Ahmed Suleiman Eid al-Masoudi, was held incommunicado despite a court order for his release, his family and human rights groups said on Sunday, according to The New Arab’s Arabic language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
According to the report, the Zagazig criminal court had issued a release order for al-Masoudi on 11 November, following an appeal supported by medical reports confirming a significant decline in his health.
However, rights groups have noted that the order was not implemented, and al-Masoudi remained in the custody of security forces, who failed to disclose his whereabouts since the enforced disappearance order was issued.
Reports in local media state that al-Masoudi’s health started to decline before the order for him to be released was issued, and that he had contracted severe pneumonia.
He was moved to Damanhour Prison for medical treatment when he reached a critical stage, but after it was announced that he was due to be released, he was transferred to an unknown location.
His family told reporters that they had been unable to contact him or receive updates on his well-being.
Al-Masoudi’s health rapidly deteriorated on Saturday evening, leaving him to die later that night. His funeral was held in the early hours of Sunday morning, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.
No official statements clarifying the circumstances around his death or detention were made, rights groups noted.
Al-Masoudi was imprisoned in connection to a 2015 case, where he was charged with joining a terrorist group – an accusation activists state has long been used by authorities to crack down on people and dissidents.
Human Rights Watch has repeatedly documented cases of widespread repression in Egypt, as well as dire conditions for detainees kept behind bars.
The organisation said that under President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, authorities have “extensively used pretrial detention, particularly in politicised cases, to keep tens of thousands of people in jail without trial”.
The rights group also noted that no independent groups are allowed to visit detention sites, and no independent authorities exist to monitor reports of ill-treatment or dire conditions in prisons.
Earlier this month, two prisoners were reported dead in the space of 24 hours, the al-Shehab Human Rights Centre said.
International and Egyptian rights monitors have for years documented a rise in deaths inside prisons, particularly among political detainees, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
Amnesty International said that prisoners are deliberately denied medical treatment, held in inhumane conditions, and subject to torture.