Egypt: Unjustly jailed politician’s son’s health at risk

Anas al-Beltagy has been unjustly detained for almost 11 years, punished solely because of his family ties. Since his arrest in December 2013, Egyptian authorities have inflicted severe abuses, including enforced disappearance, torture, and other ill-treatment. In June 2024, Anas joined a prison hunger strike, protesting these injustices. In retaliation, he was placed in solitary confinement for three months in a “disciplinary cell.” This cruel treatment has devastated his physical and mental health. Authorities also deny him visits from his family and lawyers, deepening his isolation. Anas al-Beltagy must be immediately and unconditionally released.

Here’s what you can do:

Write to the Egyptian President urging him to:

• Ensure that Anas al-Beltagy is immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against him are dropped, as they are based solely on his family links and his exercise of human rights.
• Pending his release, ensure that Anas is held in conditions that meet international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
• Grant him regular access to his family, lawyers, and adequate healthcare without delay.

Arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance

On 24 December 2013, security forces arrested 20-year-old Anas al-Beltagy during a visit with his mother to Tora Prison Complex, where his father, Mohamed al-Beltagy, was detained. They were beaten by security forces and interrogated over accusations of assaulting prison guards. Though provisionally released on bail after 20 hours, Anas was arrested again on 31 December 2013 at a friend’s house in Cairo.

At Nasr City 1 Police Station, police refused to acknowledge his detention, forcibly disappearing him for nearly a month. During this time, he was tortured, confined in an iron cage “unfit for humans,” and subjected to other abuses. He was later moved to Abu Zaabal prison, where he endured solitary confinement and slept on a bare concrete floor.

Ongoing torture and inhumane conditions

Transferred to Tora Prison Complex and later Badr Prison, Anas was subjected to continued abuse. In Badr Prison, he was held in solitary confinement in a freezing cell with fluorescent lights on 24/7. He was denied outdoor exercise, contact with other prisoners, and access to adequate food, clothing, or medicine.

In June 2024, he was moved to a “disciplinary cell” at 10th of Ramadan prison as punishment for protesting his detention conditions. These cells lack ventilation, natural light, and basic necessities, with prisoners often denied sufficient food and water. After three months, he was returned to solitary confinement, where isolation and deprivation persist.

Systematic neglect and targeted persecution

During remote pre-trial detention renewal hearings held since 2022, Anas complained about his worsening health and the psychological toll of his imprisonment. Judges ignored his complaints, and hearings often suffered from technical issues, preventing meaningful legal representation. His lawyers reported instances where Anas did not appear on camera, raising concerns about his whereabouts.

The targeting of Anas reflects broader persecution against his family. Security forces killed his sister, Asma, during the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in in August 2013, and no officials have been held accountable for the violent dispersal. His family continues to face systematic harassment, forcing some to flee Egypt.

Please take action as soon as possible until May 21, 2025! The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.