Egyptian former presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh has been in solitary confinement for seven years, facing harsh conditions and denying medical treatment despite serious health issues. His ongoing imprisonment has been widely criticized as a violation of human rights by organizations such as the ENHR, who argue that it is a politically motivated act aimed at suppressing dissent.
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a former presidential candidate in Egypt, has spent the last seven years in solitary confinement after his arrest on February 14, 2018. He was detained by security forces upon returning from London, leading to significant health issues while incarcerated, including multiple heart attacks and respiratory problems. Aboul Fotouh is currently 74 years old and had been imprisoned first in Tora Prison, then moved to Badr 3 Prison.
The Egyptian Network for Human Rights (ENHR) has condemned the lengthy confinement of Aboul Fotouh, citing it as a violation of both domestic and international law pertaining to human rights. The organization highlighted that the harsh conditions in which he is held amount to psychological torture, further exacerbated by allegations of inadequate medical care for his deteriorating health.
Despite his legal team’s efforts to secure his release from solitary confinement, Egyptian courts have repeatedly denied their petitions. The legal framework in Egypt stipulates that solitary confinement should not exceed 30 days, contrasting sharply with Aboul Fotouh’s ongoing imprisonment. Additionally, a State Security Emergency Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison in May 2022 on allegations deemed unfounded by various rights organizations.
International organizations have raised alarm regarding the Egyptian government’s practices of using pretrial detention and politically motivated charges to suppress dissent. ENHR emphasized that Aboul Fotouh’s case is a political maneuver designed to eliminate opposition rather than a legal issue of criminality. This disturbing trend reflects broader issues within the Egyptian political landscape since President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s rise to power in 2013.
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh’s prolonged solitary confinement spotlights significant human rights abuses in Egypt under the regime of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Various organizations, including the ENHR, criticize the legal justifications and argue that such treatment violates international ethics. His declining health and the political nature of his detention raise further concerns about justice and political freedom in Egypt.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
