The death of a prisoner inside the disciplinary room at Abu Zaabal 2 prison raises suspicions of torture and cruel treatment
The Al-Shehab Human Rights Center expresses its deep concern and condemnation regarding the incident of the death of prisoner Mohamed Abu Alaa Abu Sari, 36 years old, inside the disciplinary room at Abu Zaabal 2 prison, under circumstances that raise serious suspicions of torture and inhumane treatment.
Mohamed was imprisoned pending a criminal case, sentenced to 15 years in prison, before he was found hanged inside the disciplinary room, following prolonged periods of psychological and physical abuse that led to a severe deterioration in his mental state.
According to available information, the prisoner was subjected to repeated placements in disciplinary rooms eight times in recent months, the last of which was on January 12, 2026, as part of arbitrary punitive measures that escalated following complaints made by his family demanding protection from violations inside his detention.
During his last detention period, Mohamed was stripped of all his clothes, leaving him with only his underwear, and was held in a cramped, extremely cold cell not exceeding three square meters, without ventilation or a toilet, for seven consecutive days, completely ignoring his repeated pleas and cries for help.
Witness testimonies indicate that the prisoner continued to scream for long hours demanding to meet with prison officials, announcing his intention to end his life, without the prison administration taking any preventive measures, until he was found hanged using a piece of fabric from his blanket.
Upon receiving the body, the family noticed clear signs of torture and binding on the hands and feet, which reinforces suspicions of severe mistreatment before his death.
The Al-Shehab Center emphasizes that this incident highlights the dangers of using disciplinary rooms as a means of punishment, representing a serious violation of the right to life and protection from torture, in violation of the Egyptian constitution and international treaties, foremost among them the Convention Against Torture.
The Al-Shehab Human Rights Center demands:
To open an independent, serious, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of prisoner Mohamed Abu Alaa.
To hold accountable all direct and indirect officials responsible for the incident.
To enable the public prosecution and independent oversight bodies to inspect disciplinary rooms and places of detention.
To stop using disciplinary rooms as tools for punishment and torture.
To provide effective mechanisms for receiving prisoners' complaints and ensuring their protection from any retaliatory measures.
Silence on such incidents opens the door for their recurrence and undermines the most basic guarantees of justice and human dignity within places of detention.
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