Nineteen human rights groups have issued a joint statement expressing their deep concern about the grave violations and abuses committed by the Egyptian authorities in the Badr Prison Complex, which constitute, they said, a flagrant violation of the constitution, laws, and international covenants and treaties.

Among the violations they cited were denying prisoners visits, denying them exercise, giving them small portions of food, and subjecting them to intense light 24 hours a day. The rights groups, including Human Rights Monitor and the Egyptian Network for Human Rights, said that the Badr Prison Complex is a harsher version of the notorious Scorpion prison, adding that these systematic practices have led some to commit suicide prompted others to go on hunger strike.

They stressed that the violations amounted to crimes of physical and moral torture. They called on the Egyptian government to immediately stop the violations, abide by the rule of law, and form a fact-finding committee composed of independent local and international organizations. They also called on the Public Prosecutor to open an urgent, serious and transparent investigation into the violations and to bring the perpetrators to a fair trial. Their statement urged the High Commissioner for Human Rights to quickly address the Egyptian authorities to stop the violations. Finally, they called on international and local civil society organizations to coordinate to stop violations in Badr Prison Complex and all Egyptian prisons.