Ikhwan Web, the official English media outlet for the Muslim Brotherhood announced Monday that more than 450 of the “political prisoners from the Muslim Brotherhood” have gone on a hunger strike to protest against their dire conditions and ill-treatment.
The media outlet added that among the striking detainees are leaders from the brotherhood including: Khairat Al-Shater, Essam Al-Erian, Mohamed Al-Beltagy, Essam Al-Haddad and others.
Photo journalist Mosa’ab El-Shamy said that his brother AbdAllah who was detained during the dispersal of Rabaa sit-in, went on a hunger strike on Monday morning. Abdullah told El-Shamy that he will start his hunger strike during his visit that only lasted for 30 minutes on Monday morning.
“My brother along with 17 others are being detained in a 10 metre-square cell with no sunlight nor fresh air. They only came out for 30 minutes during today’s visit in the last seven days,” said Shamy who added that his brother was pale and had dark circles under his eyes due to sleep deprivation.
Shamy highlighted that it is unlikely that the hunger strike conducted by the Muslim Brotherhood leaders, have a direct connection, to his brother and his cellmates as they have not been outside (or in any position to conspire,) except during the 30 minute visit on Monday.
The 18 striking detainees were arrested during the dispersal of Rabaa sit in back in August. Some of the detainees were protesters taking part in the sit-in; others were arrested, along with two journalists; Al-Jazeera correspondent in West Africa Abdullah El-Shamy (who was especially sent to cover Egypt after 30 June) and freelance photo journalist Mahmoud AbuZayed.
The Interior Ministry media office had no information about the hunger strike.
The Prison Authority is managed by the Interior Ministry according to the Egyptian law.
