Grave Alert on the Systematic Starvation and Abuse of Detainees in New Valley Prison (Egypt)
We, the undersigned human rights organizations, are deeply alarmed by the escalating human rights crisis unfolding inside Egypt’s New Valley Prison — now widely referred to as
the “Prison of Death.”
Dozens of detainees in Ward 4 have launched an open-ended hunger strike in protest of inhumane detention conditions and systematic abuse that amounts to both psychological and physical torture.
In recent days, we have received credible testimonies and reports documenting the following violations:
Deprivation of sufficient food, clean water, and basic healthcare.
Complete stripping of cells from all personal belongings, including hygiene supplies.
Total ban on family visits and access to legal counsel — in flagrant violation of both the Egyptian Constitution and international law.
Arbitrary and punitive transfers to closed disciplinary cells without legal justification or referral to judicial authorities.
Persistent medical neglect and acts of mistreatment, posing severe risks to detainees’ lives.
Legal Grounds for Accountability
These violations clearly contravene Article 55 of the Egyptian Constitution, which stipulates that “any person who is arrested or whose freedom is restricted must be treated in a manner that preserves their dignity.”
They also breach Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees humane treatment for all individuals deprived of their liberty.
Additionally, they violate the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) and the UN Convention Against Torture, to which Egypt has been a state party since 1986 and is thus legally bound to prevent all forms of torture and ill-treatment in places of detention.
Accordingly, we demand the following:
- An urgent, independent investigation into the conditions inside New Valley Prison.
- Immediate access for delegations from national and international human rights organizations to inspect the facility and assess the situation of detainees.
- Provision of emergency medical care to all hunger-striking detainees.
- Accountability for all officials involved in these violations, in accordance with Egyptian and international law.
- Effective guarantees to end collective punishment, psychological and physical torture in all Egyptian prisons.
- The immediate release of all individuals detained arbitrarily or sentenced through unfair trials, as stipulated by international human rights law.
Signatory Organizations:
1- Free Voice for Human Rights -France
2-Justice for Human Rights (JHR) – Istanbul
3- El-Shehab Center for Human Rights (SHR) – London
4- Association of Victims of Torture -(AVTT) – Geneva, Switzerland
5- Human Rights Solidarity (HRS)- Geneva, Switzerland
6- AFD International –Belgium
7- Al-Karama for Human Rights – Geneva, Switzerland
8- Human Rights Monitor (HRM) – London
9- Cedar for Human Rights – Lebanon
10- Tawasol for Human Rights (THR) – The Hague, Netherlands
11- Council for Egyptians’ Rights – Geneva
12-Arab Observatiry for Media Freedom
13- Najda Human Rights Foundation
14-International Organization for Development —IOD Bosnia