Egypt: Ahead of Egypt’s UN human rights review, imprisoned poet Galal El-Behairy faces threats of torture and is denied medical care

Image courtesy of Galal El-Bahairy’s sister

It is unacceptable to see writers and poets facing ill-treatment, threats of torture and being denied medical care in prison. El-Behairy should have never been imprisoned, yet Egyptian authorities refused to release him despite having already fully served an unjust prison sentence and his current period of  pre-trial detention exceeding the absolute limit according to Egyptian law. He should be free with his family and friends, and the Egyptian authorities have a responsibility to protect him from torture and all forms of ill-treatment while also guaranteeing his unrestricted access to medical care pending his release,’ said Burhan Sonmez, President of PEN International. 

 13 December 2024: PEN International is outraged to learn that Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy is facing threats of torture and ill-treatment in prison and is being denied access to essential medical care. We consider Galal El-Behairy’s detention to be arbitrary and in retaliation for the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression. The organisation calls once again for his immediate and unconditional release and holds the Egyptian authorities responsible for his health and well-being pending his release.  

Despite Egypt being just weeks away from its fourth Universal Periodic Review before the UN Human Rights Council in January 2025, Egyptian authorities continue to arbitrarily imprison writers Alaa Abdel Fattah, Galal El-Behairy, and Ashraf Omar in complete disregard for international human rights law. PEN International calls on UN Member states to use this opportunity to pressure the Egyptian government to immediately and unconditionally release all individuals arbitrarily detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including Galal El-Behairy, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, and Ashraf Omar. 

 On 17 November 2024, Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy and his family members were subjected to invasive body searches after their visit to Badr 1 prison, to which El-Behairy objected. In response, a prison officer threatened to take him to the torture room, which has no cameras in prison Badr 3 and ‘do whatever he wants with him.’ El-Behairy is also suffering from a tumour in his mouth, which is causing difficulty in swallowing and requires urgent medical intervention. However, prison authorities continue to deny him access to medical care.  

On 5 September 2023, Galal El-Behairy reached the maximum legal duration of pre-trial detention, marking two years in arbitrary pre-trial detention on trumped-up charges of  ‘disseminating false news’ and ‘joining a terrorist group’ in case number 2000/2021 SSSP. According to the Egyptian Criminal Procedure Code, El-Behairy’s pre-trial detention should not extend beyond the absolute legal limit of two years. However, Egyptian authorities continue to subject him to arbitrary detention. In a message to PEN International in August, El-Behairy announced his intention to resume his hunger strike on 5 September 2023, which was previously suspended in June 2023, to protest his unjust pre-trial detention. He also expressed his desire to attend his younger sister’s wedding as a free man in October. On 9 September 2023, four days after he resumed his hunger strike in protest against his prolonged arbitrary detention, Galal El-Behairy attempted to end his life after losing hope that he would be released to attend his sister’s wedding. 

Despite having fully served an unjust 3-year sentence imposed by a military court in July 2021, Egyptian prosecutors subsequently brought forth additional fabricated charges against El-Behairy, leading to his continued arbitrary pre-trial detention. El-Behairy’s health has significantly deteriorated due to torture and inhumane detention conditions over five years of imprisonment, and he has reportedly lost considerable weight since he began striking in March 2023. 

For more details on PEN International's actions and background on Galal’s case, please visit: https://www.pen-international.org/news/poet-galal-el-behairy-marks-two-years-in-arbitrary-pre-trial-detention?rq=Galal%20  

For more information, please contact Mina Thabet, Head of the MENA Region, at PEN International, email: Mina.Thabet@pen-international.org