Egypt's jails are a significant financial strain in a nation burdened by debt
Amidst Egypt's economic turmoil, the Interior Minister has decided to construct six more prisons, including the May 15 Correction and Rehabilitation Centers. Reports indicate that these prisons will be built south of Cairo, and this move aligns with President Sisi's agenda of expanding prison infrastructure since 2013.
The new prison complexes are being built under Resolution 1042 of 2023 and are part of a national dialogue, aiming to present a rescue plan for the country before the 2024 presidential election. Yet, many question whether these new prisons will bring positive changes or perpetuate existing issues.
Over the years, Egypt has seen an alarming rise in suicides in prisons. In 2022, 52 prisoners lost their lives due to medical negligence and deplorable detention conditions, as reported by human rights organizations. The Badr prison complex, which opened in late 2021, has faced criticism for its lack of improvement over the old prisons, with claims of severe violations and becoming a "slaughterhouse" where the mindset of prison staff remains unchanged.
The new prisons might appear as a strategic move to improve the government's image and divert attention from poor human rights records. However, critics argue that such developments should focus on addressing longstanding systemic issues within Egyptian prisons such as medical neglect, restrictions on basic rights, lack of hope, and reports of torture and ill-treatment. By addressing these factors, the Egyptian government can potentially reduce the escalating rates of suicide attempts and suicides among prisoners.
In the meantime, the commitment to improving prison conditions and adhering to international standards remains questionable, as the prison budget only represents one thousandth of the total state budget and there's a lack of transparency and parliamentary or financial oversight. Furthermore, the high cost of constructing and maintaining these prisons adds to Egypt's immense foreign debt, raising concerns about misallocation of resources in a country grappling with economic struggles.
With calls for an independent authority to monitor prisons and the transfer of prison management from the Interior Ministry to the Ministry of Justice, it seems that addressing prison reform is essential for Egypt's future. Only time will tell whether these new prisons will mark a change for the better or continue the cycle of harsh conditions and systemic issues that have led to the tragic loss of countless lives in Egyptian prisons.
- The ministry's decision to construct six new prisons, including the May 15 Correction and Rehabilitation Centers, is a part of a national resolution passed in 2023.
- The new prisons are aimed at presenting a rescue plan for Egypt before the 2024 presidential election.
- However, there are concerns that the new prisons might perpetuate existing issues within Egyptian prisons.
- Over the years, there has been an alarming rise in suicides in Egyptian prisons.
- In 2022 alone, 52 prisoners lost their lives due to medical negligence and deplorable detention conditions.
- The Badr prison complex, which opened in late 2021, has faced criticism for its lack of improvement over the old prisons.
- Critics argue that these new prisons should focus on addressing systemic issues within Egyptian prisons.
- Medical neglect, restrictions on basic rights, lack of hope, and reports of torture and ill-treatment are among the longstanding issues within Egyptian prisons.
- The prison budget represents only a small fraction of the total state budget, raising concerns about the commitment to improving prison conditions.
- There's a lack of transparency and parliamentary or financial oversight when it comes to prison management.
- The high cost of constructing and maintaining these prisons adds to Egypt's immense foreign debt.
- With Egypt grappling with economic struggles, concerns about misallocation of resources are rising.
- Activists and NGOs call for an independent authority to monitor prisons and the transfer of prison management from the Interior Ministry to the Ministry of Justice.
- Addressing prison reform is essential for Egypt's future, as it could potentially reduce the escalating rates of suicide attempts and suicides among prisoners.
- The Middle East news coverage has been filled with articles and opinions on Egypt's prison system, with protests resulting in general-news headlines.
- The UN has repeatedly called on the Egyptian government to address human rights issues, including prison conditions.
- As Egypt heads towards the 2023 election, the situation in Sharqia and the state of the prison system could play a significant role in the political industry, finance, and business landscape.
