Three prisoners, in separate incidents, have died in police custody over the past three days, sparking concerns over the treatment of civilians in custody.
Preliminary reports allege that the latest victims died of circulatory failure or strokes.
On Monday, a 25-year-old fruit vendor named Mohamed Quweider died in the second district police station. According to the Ministry of Interior, the man had died en route to a hospital after suffering from a stroke brought about by diabetes. On Tuesday, a delegation from the forensic medicine department carried out an autopsy of the body.
Quweider’s family challenged the official narrative.
Another man, Adel Waheed, died in police custody at Al-Badrashin police station on Sunday. A preliminary medical report suggests the man died of circulatory failure, but his family disputes the claim saying he was tortured. The prosecution began an investigation into the death on Tuesday.
After Waheed’s death, riot police surrounded the police station as the family of the victim gathered around the station to demand those responsible be held accountable for his death.
The identity of the third victim is unknown. However, the man was allegedly arrested and taken to the Abu Nomros police station on Sunday. The man’s family accused the police of torture on Monday; however, the Interior Ministry has said that they do not suspect foul play.
The three incidents come barely a week after the death of Magdy Makeen, a cart driver whose death while in custody has sparked anger and torture allegations. He was allegedly tortured by about 10 police officers at Al-Amiriya police station after being arrested on 13 November while driving a cart with two of his friends. His family found out about his death on 14 November and decided to transfer the body to Al-Zaytoun hospital, where they found signs of assault and torture on his body.
Makeen’s body is still being autopsied, and a report is expected within the next few weeks.
