Detainee with rare leishmaniasis infection to be returned to prison: Family

The family of detainee Ahmed al-Khateeb, who suffers from the rare visceral leishmaniasis infection, were informed that their son will be transferred from hospital back to Wadi al-Natroun prison, according to a statement made by Khateeb's sister on Monday.

In the statement, Khateeb's sister said the family contacted officials in the hospital who informed them that Khateeb finished his treatment. The family, however, could not get an official report proving that the detainee received his full treatment. She published a photo of her brother, who had visibly lost weight due to his illness. Visceral leishmaniasis is commonly contracted through a bite by a sandfly and has a high fatality rate if left untreated.

The detainee’s brother, Mohamed al-Khateeb, told Mada Masr on Wednesday that the family knew about the alleged decision through their contacts inside the hospital, whose identities they preferred not to reveal. Officials at the hospital were not available to confirm this information to Mada Masr.

Mohamed said the last family visit to the detainee had been 20 days ago, adding that they are facing difficulties in visiting their ill son.

“Last visit, my mother took food, clothes and other personal belongings to my brother. Despite acquiring official permission to visit him, officers guarding my brother ordered her to go to the Nasr City police station three times to validate the permission. My mother got extremely tired. Since then we have been unable to visit him and we know nothing about his medical condition, to the extent that we do not know which doctor follows up on his case,” he noted.

The Interior Ministry had agreed to transfer the detainee to Abbasseya Fever Hospital on March 22, after a medical report issued by Cairo University proved he contacted the rare visceral leishmaniasis infection.

Khateeb was arrested in 2014 on his return to Egypt from Turkey after participating in a study program. He was arrested from his home and forcibly disappeared for ten days before he was formally charged with joining a terrorist organization abroad. He was sentenced to ten years and fined LE100,000.

According to his family, he did not suffer from any health problems prior to his detention, but in May 2016 he was transferred to Wadi al-Natroun prison, and his health began to deteriorate.

The Interior Ministry said in an official statement on March 29 that there was no issue transferring Khateeb to a private hospital for treatment, with his family covering the expenses. The statement also added that a preventative team conducted medical screenings in Monufiya governorate, screening anyone who had had any contact with Khateeb.

His brother, however, explained to Mada Masr on Wednesday that the family submitted an official request to transfer him to a private hospital, but authorities have not yet approved the request, despite the interior ministry's statements saying otherwise.