Egypt’s prison system is witnessing an escalating human rights emergency as dozens of students remain behind bars on politically related charges, subjected to sustained patterns of abuse that threaten their physical health, psychological stability, and educational futures. Recent documentation from inside detention facilities reveals an entrenched policy of repression that has transformed Egypt’s prisons into sites of prolonged suffering and institutionalized deprivation.

The situation has drawn renewed attention following the release of a deeply moving letter by Mudather Mohamed Abdel Hamid, a 25-year-old engineering student at Helwan University, who has been detained since 20 October 2023 for participating in peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposing Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.

A Voice from Inside the Cell
On 7 January 2026, Mudather sent his message from 10th of Ramadan Prison (Rehabilitation Unit 6, Cell 1/11), offering a stark portrayal of life under prolonged detention. His words describe a slow erosion of both body and spirit:
“The body has aged prematurely under the weight of confinement… youth itself has been stolen, leaving a man old before his time. Hope has been lost, the path of education destroyed.”
His testimony illustrates the devastating impact of imprisonment not only on detainees themselves, but also on their families. Mudather is the only son of elderly parents suffering from serious health conditions — a reality that compounds the emotional and social toll of his detention.

Criminalizing Peaceful Expression
Human rights organizations estimate that approximately 190 Egyptians remain in pretrial detention for charges linked solely to peaceful political expression, particularly in relation to demonstrations supporting Palestine. Observers describe a striking contradiction between Egypt’s public condemnation of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the domestic repression of citizens who express the same stance.
This contradiction, rights advocates argue, reflects a deep erosion of respect for freedom of opinion and expression and has severely undermined public trust in state institutions.

Educational Destruction as a Tool of Punishment
One of the most severe aspects of the crisis is the systematic denial of detainees’ right to education. Multiple reports indicate that prison administrations — particularly at Badr Prison (3) — routinely prevent detained students from sitting for their academic examinations.
The consequences have been catastrophic. Karim Samir, a detained student, attempted suicide after being repeatedly barred from taking his exams. In another case, Moaz El-Sharkawy launched an open-ended hunger strike in protest against authorities’ refusal to allow him to complete his studies.
Such cases expose the profound psychological damage being inflicted on detained youth, many of whom now face the permanent destruction of their academic and professional futures.
Patterns of Systematic Abuse
Investigations conducted by Women Journalists Without Chains, supported by firsthand testimonies and credible human rights reports, reveal a consistent pattern of violations inside detention facilities, including:
•    Confiscation of books and educational materials
•    Arbitrary and punitive disciplinary measures
•    Prolonged confinement in inhumane “intake” cells
•    Denial of adequate medical care
•    Failure to credit pretrial detention toward final sentences, as in the case of activist Mohamed Adel
These practices violate core protections guaranteed under Egypt’s Constitution and breach multiple international human rights conventions.
Grave Legal and Moral Violations
Women Journalists Without Chains stresses that what detained students are subjected to constitutes serious violations of fundamental human rights, including:
•    The right to freedom of expression
•    The right to peaceful assembly
•    The right to education
•    The right to health
•    The right to a fair trial
The organization further notes that these conditions directly contravene the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and guarantee detainees’ access to education, healthcare, and humane conditions.
Demands and Calls for Accountability
In response to these findings, Women Journalists Without Chains has issued a comprehensive set of demands, calling for:
•    The immediate cessation of all violations against detained students
•    Unrestricted access for detainees to sit academic examinations
•    An end to collective punishment and abusive prison policies
•    The immediate release of all prisoners held in political cases
•    The regular transfer of ill detainees to specialized hospitals
•    Independent, transparent investigations and full accountability for all responsible officials
The organization warns that continued disregard for detainees’ rights risks producing irreversible consequences — not only for the victims and their families, but for the credibility of Egypt’s justice system itself.
“Respect for human rights inside places of detention,” the organization concludes, “is not merely a legal obligation. It is a moral imperative that admits no compromise.”