A number of social media users "Facebook" and "Twitter" launched a campaign entitled "I want to breathe" in solidarity with prisoners of conscience in prisons and places of detention, in light of the very high temperatures these days.
Activists circulated images of solidarity with prisoners under several cartoons, most notably “I want to breathe” and “a suffocated prisoner,” in addition to pictures of activists and released detainees wearing plastic bags on their heads.
The Egyptian trend was dominated by the drawings of the death squads, "I want to breathe", Egypt to where, a prisoner strangled.
This Egyptian activity coincided with a humanitarian campaign launched by activists in 5 languages to "save detainees" from death, as a result of the severe heat wave that is currently hitting the country. This campaign, which was launched under the title "Save Egyptian prisoners from death by suffocation", has become very popular on my website. Social networking «Facebook» and «Twitter».
"Tragic conditions", this is how some human rights defenders described the conditions inside Egyptian prisons, with the onset of the summer season and the dramatic increase in temperature, prisoners suffer from the lack of ventilation facilities in addition to the overcrowding of the narrow spaces of prisons and their incompatibility with the large number inside them, despite the attempt of several parties Providing assistance to improve the conditions of prisoners, the Ministry of Interior is silent and does not respond to these calls, and the General Syndicate of Physicians has addressed Major General Hassan Al-Sohaji, Assistant Minister of Interior for the Prisons Sector, regarding the citizens' wishes to donate air fans to detainees pending cases in Tora prison due to the expected high temperatures in the summer And the presence of patients among them, and she said at the time that in light of the humanitarian framework sponsored by needy groups and the community participation of state institutions in carrying out their role, the Syndicate hopes, with the approval of the prison sector, that the Egypt Tender Committee of the General Syndicate of Physicians will donate air fans and provide it with the specifications and requirements of these fans in accordance with the regulations and law of the Egyptian Prisons Authority.
The experts emphasized that the Egyptian Prisons Authority must work to improve conditions and implement the articles stipulated in the constitution, international charters and covenants regarding the conditions of detainees, pointing out that many prisoners are exposed to poor health conditions such as drought and respiratory diseases, as well as loss of life due to this atmosphere, stressing The Interior Ministry data regarding the introduction of air conditioners inside prisons is not applied on the ground, and it is sufficient for some limited places that do not exceed the 51 TP1T percentage from Egyptian prisons.
Magda Adly, director of the Nadim Center, and a human rights activist, confirmed that the conditions in Egyptian prisons are bad, and the cells are not suitable for human use, confirming that the prisons contain three times the number that they are supposed to be dedicated to.
"Adly" reported that the prisons do not have good ventilation, as they have a small window close to the ceiling, in addition to the absence of fans, indicating that it is difficult for this to contribute to renewing the air inside the prisons.
Adly pointed out that the Prisons Authority must take into account the imposed space in relation to the prison and the ventilation factors, as well as the application of data and rhetoric statements that they come out with from time to time to place adaptations in places of detention and prisons.
"Adly" indicated that due to these harsh conditions, prisoners are exposed to dehydration and respiratory diseases, and some of them even die because of bad conditions.
"Adly" affirmed that Egypt is a signatory to many international agreements related to the conditions of citizens under detention, but in reality, it did not implement these agreements but rather violated them.
Walaa Gad, Director General of Partners for Transparency, confirmed that they have received many complaints about the violations that citizens are exposed to inside prisons, noting that with the bad weather conditions and the high temperature, the situation worsens and worsens.
"Gad" added that the Prisons Authority Law includes articles on the right of citizens who are in detention or in the prisons themselves, in addition to that the constitution itself guarantees that the prisoner will not be subjected to physical or moral abuse or torture, as it has become the right of those who arrested him not to be tortured. Or intimidating, coercing, or harming him physically or morally, and that detention is only carried out in a place designated for that, and he is humanly and health-fit.
"Gad" stated that any violation of these rights is considered by the constitution as a crime for which the perpetrator is punished, but unfortunately these things are not applied as there is a big gap between the application and the texts.
"Gad" pointed out that the Ministry of Interior announces from time to time about improving conditions inside prisons, and supplying them with air conditioners and fans, but in reality this only happens in limited places and concerns places of detention only.
"Gad" affirmed that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, included the protection of prisoners, pointing out that Egypt does not apply the least human rights for prisoners.
