Political detainees report being assaulted in prison

Detained student Mahmoud Mohamed told his family during a visit on Wednesday that two police officers physically assaulted him in his cell, the family reported on Facebook. The 19-year old was arrested on the third anniversary of the January 25 revolution while walking home with a t-shirt with an anti-torture slogan on it.

Several other detainees have reported similar incidents in recent weeks.

Families and lawyers of 19 detainees in the “Shura Council” case have also announced on Tuesday that the detainees were allegedly physically assaulted using whips while incarcerated in Tora Prison. Some were reportedly placed in solitary detention after an altercation between one inmate and an officer.

The story told by one of the detainees, Mohamed Hosni, during a visit and reiterated by his family, alleges that an older member of the Shura detainees complained about food portions, which led to a dispute with two low-ranking officers, who transferred him to solitary confinement.

The rest of the group objected to the move, citing Salah’s health issues. Security forces then reportedly stormed their cells and assaulted them using whips, before moving some of the detainees to solitary confinement.

Lawyer Mahmoud Belal and others representing the detainees have submitted reports to the General Prosecutor about the incident.

The Shura detainees are serving three to five years in prison on charges related to a protest held outside of the Shura Council in November 2013.