Amid ongoing severe human rights violations within the Egyptian penal system, the “Article 55” Coalition recorded a series of serious violations observed during February 2025, which constitute a flagrant breach of Article 55 of the Egyptian Constitution, which guarantees the humane treatment of prisoners.

The reporting period witnessed a notable escalation in the crackdown targeting various segments of society. Authorities continued their policy of arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, with these practices particularly affecting political activists and workers protesting difficult economic conditions. The coalition documented several cases of arbitrary arrest involving workers who had organized peaceful strikes to demand their legitimate rights.

On the judicial front, courts continued to issue harsh and disproportionate sentences, including death sentences and life imprisonment in cases with political backgrounds. The practice of arbitrary pretrial detention for extended periods — in some cases lasting several years — was also observed, representing a flagrant violation of fair trial principles.

In a related context, humanitarian suffering persisted inside prisons and detention facilities. The coalition recorded two deaths resulting from deliberate medical neglect. It also documented cases of systematic torture and intentional deprivation of medical care for individuals suffering from serious illnesses, leading to a severe deterioration in their health conditions. Documented incidents point to a systematic pattern of violating detainees’ fundamental rights, ranging from inhumane detention conditions to torture and ill-treatment.

In conclusion, the “Article 55” Coalition affirms that the documented incidents indicate a systematic policy of human rights violations within the Egyptian penal system, with a complete absence of accountability and oversight. The coalition reiterates its call for an impartial investigation into all reported violations, the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, and the guarantee of humane treatment for all prisoners in accordance with international standards. The coalition also demands that human rights organizations be granted access to prisons to fully assess the conditions of detainees.