Egypt: authorities show "model prisons"
Audio 01:12
View of al-Qanatir Women's Prison, about 30 kilometers north of the Egyptian capital (illustrative image).
AFP - KHALED DESOUKI
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Egypt is regularly condemned by human rights organizations on many subjects and in particular on the prison conditions of detainees.
These reports refer to torture sometimes resulting in death.
So in an attempt to restore its image, the authorities are showing “model prisons”.
Visit of that of el-Marg, north of Cairo.
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With our correspondent in Cairo,
Édouard Dropsy
To the applause of official visitors, this inmate sings enthusiastically. Abdelaziz Seïd is imprisoned for one year at the El-Marg penitentiary center. And according to him, there is no reason to complain: “
By the grace of God, it is quite comfortable in a way. We eat, we drink, we sleep well here. We also get treatment.
"
In this model prison, we see detainees playing a football match, consulting doctors, praying ... Far from the image of independent reports accusing prison overcrowding where torture is daily.
Moreover, for Tarek Radwan, the head of the human rights committee in Parliament, these reports are false.
“
It's gossip,
” he said.
We have no proof.
We are open to listening if there are any complaints or if there are any queries that need to be addressed, we are there.
We are the representatives of the Egyptians.
"
In 2017, the UN condemned the systematic practice of torture against detainees in Egyptian prisons.
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Also listen:
Egypt: dramatic situation in prisons, according to Amnesty France
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