The undersigned human rights organizations condemn the assault and attempted strangulation of activist Mohamed Adel in his cell on Saturday, 10 January, inside the 10th of Ramadan (4) Rehabilitation Center. The organizations stand in solidarity with the legitimate demands of Adel’s family to investigate the circumstances of the assault. We call on the Public Prosecution to complete its investigations into the reports submitted by Adel’s family and respond to their demands for a prompt medical examination to document evidence of the assault in an official medical report, as a prelude to bringing perpetrators and accomplices to justice under the law.

On 19 January, the Attorney General at the Mansoura Appeals Prosecution listened to the testimony of Rufida Hamdi, Adel’s wife, and his father regarding report No. 8264 of 2025 (petitions), submitted by Adel’s defense on 29 December 2025.  Rufida urged the Prosecution ‘to investigate the violations he is subjected to, most notably threats of beating and humiliation if he does not end his hunger strike’. In addition to her testimony, Rufida accused the administration of the 10th of Ramadan (4) Rehabilitation Center of inciting detainees to assault Adel. She requested the Prosecution to issue a decision for a medical examination to document his injuries, investigate his case as a victim, and interrogate the prisoners and prison officials who assaulted him.

According to Rufida Hamdi’s testimony following her latest visit to her husband, Adel confirmed that he was forcibly taken to the ‘reception ward’, a place designated for only new detainees and unequipped to accommodate Adel. There he was assaulted, choked, and threatened with death by other detainees, while security personnel watched and the prison administration did not intervene. Adel further indicated that surveillance cameras inside the prison documented what happened. Rufida confirmed that Adel is suffering from a serious deterioration in his health and significant weight loss due to his ongoing hunger strike since 7 December 2025, compounded by his poor general health in addition to being prevented from exercising by the prison administration. This amounts to cruel and inhuman treatment and heightens the serious risks threatening his life.

On 15 January 2026, Rufida Hamdi and Adel’s defense team submitted an official report to the Public Prosecutor on the assault incident, registered under No. 1515656. The petition included a request to open an investigation with the 10th of Ramadan Prosecution and link it to previous reports concerning threats of assault and humiliation from the administration of the 10th of Ramadan (4) Rehabilitation Center. An electronic complaint was also submitted to the National Council for Human Rights, demanding urgent measures to protect Mohamed Adel from the danger he faces inside his prison. Following Rufida’s announcement that the mentioned reports had  been submitted, the Ministry of Interior –without conducting any investigation - swiftly issued a statement denying the incident and claiming the testimonies were fabricated. In the statement the ministry implicitly threatened Adel’s wife for publicizing his testimony about what he endured.

At the same time, the signatory organizations have been following the targeting of activist Ahmed Douma in retaliation for  his solidarity with Adel in seeking accountability for the assault.  Douma was arrested yesterday, 20 January, and interrogated  in Case No. 403 of 2026 (State Security) on charges of ‘spreading false news’  for his support of Adel on social media. He was later released on bail set at 100,000 EGP. The organizations call on the Public Prosecutor to drop these recent charges against Douma and to close the case against him.

We, the undersigned organizations demand Mohamed Adel’s immediate and unconditional release as required by law, given that Adel has already served the maximum duration of pretrial detention for the case in which he was convicted. Adel must be promptly transferred to an independent medical facility for an urgent medical examination to officially document evidence of the assault. We further demand that a serious investigation be opened that includes reviewing surveillance camera footage from the day of the assault. Perpetrators and instigators of these violations must be held accountable regardless of their positions. We declare our full solidarity with Mohamed Adel’s wife and hold the Ministry of Interior and the administration of 10th of Ramadan Prison fully responsible for his security and safety. 

Signatories: 

1. Egyptian Front for Human Rights

2. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights

3. Law and Democracy Support Foundation

4. El Nadeem Center

5. EgyptWide for Human Rights

6. Committee for Justice

7. Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression

8. Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms

9. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

10. Refugees Platform in Egypt

11. Sinai Foundation for Human Rights

12. Egyptian Human Rights Forum