Over 360 Palestinian prisoners remain imprisoned in Egyptian prisons, such as al-Este'naf, al-Tora and the notorious al-Aqrab. This has occurred despite a court order demanding their immediate release. They have been engaged in a hunger-strike for 17 days against the conditions that they face, and against their illegal detention. IHRC urges all of its followers to highlight the plight of over 360 Palestinian prisoners in the Aqrab, Este'naf and Tora prisons in Egypt; who the Egyptian prison authorities are refusing to release despite being ordered to do so by the courts. 17 days ago, these prisoners began a hunger strike in protest against the conditions which they have faced, and their detention which is illegal under international law. The majority of these prisoners have been arrested under dubious charges, and denied their rights of due-process. This violates both the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. According to reports emerging from Egypt, many prisoners have stated that they are willing to burn themselves alive as an act of desperation against the conditions they are being kept in. It is important that you call upon the organization for Islamic Conference and your political representatives and demand that they do what is in their power to secure the immediate release of these Palestinian prisoners. We cannot let the political upheavals in Egypt overshadow the situation faced by hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, who remain neglected and victimized illegally in the country's prisons. The new era of Egyptian history must be ushered in with a respect for international and humanitarian rights. The principles of “justice, freedom, equality” should extend to these men imprisoned in Egyptian jails, not just the Egyptian people. IHRC
