CAIRO: Dozens of inmates at a prison in northern Egypt went on hunger strike on Sunday to protest against their continued detention despite repeated court orders for their release, an inmate said.
Some 280 prisoners at Borg El-Arab jail near Alexandria launched the protest because the authorities have not freed them despite individual court orders to do so, the inmate said.
The man, who asked that his name not be used, told AFP by telephone that he has been in jail for five years and had obtained 13 court orders for his release.
“Every time I got a court order I would be taken to a police station to finish the paperwork for my release and instead I’d be rearrested and sent back to jail, he said by telephone.
“We now appeal to President [Hosni] Mubarak to intervene and look into our cases, the inmate added.
Rights groups have repeatedly criticized Egypt for keeping prisoners behind bars after their release has been ordered. -AFP
