Prison guards beat inmates to end hunger strike in Egyptian jail

Seventeen inmates in an Egyptian jail near the city of Alexandria were beaten by prison guards attempting to end the group’s hunger strike, Agence France-Presse reported Monday, citing the lawyer of the prisoners.

The group had been arrested in connection with the April 6 Mahalla labor riots. The inmates began their hunger strike on June 23 to protest the conditions of their detention.

The prisoners’ lawyer, Ahmed Ezzat, rejected security officials’ claims that no beating took place. “Authorities at the Borg al-Arab prison went into cell number 24 and beat up 17 prisoners to force them to end their hunger strike last Tuesday,” he said, adding: “Nine of them had been ordered released on June 2 but they are still in custody.”

For the full article, click here.