4 detainees hospitalized after assault by Alexandria court security

Four detainees were transferred to hospital after guards assaulted them in an Alexandria courthouse Wednesday, according to the defendants' lawyer.

Mohamed Hafez, a lawyer from the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE), who attended the session, told Mada Masr that the conflict started after one of the detainees fainted in an overcrowded police truck transporting them from Borg al-Arab Prison to the courthouse.

On arrival at Alexandria Criminal Court, the detainees demanded updates on their co-defendant, who fainted in the police truck, objecting to their general treatment by security. This prompted retaliation by court guards, who assaulted them, according to Hafez. The four prisoners were transferred to hospital and the session was postponed.

The defendants have been accused of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood and unlawful protesting. A hearing was set to determine the renewal of their detention. 

There have been a number of recent reports of assaults on detainees. Dostour Party member Hamdy Qeshta, who is being detained pending investigation into charges of attempting to overthrow the government, reported verbal and physical assault by two officers at Bulaq Dakrour Police Station last week.

Family and lawyers of detained lawyer Malek Adly also reported his assault and mistreatment after his arrest in May.