A Delegation of the NCHR Visits Burj al-Arab Prison

The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) extends its appreciation for allowing inspection visits for human rights and media delegations in the light of the COVID-19 situation.

Taking place on April 20, the visit to Burj al-Arab prison marked the third this year. The NCHR's delegation included: Prof. Dr. Salah Salam, a member of the National Council for Human Rights, and two of the Secretary-General members (Nabil Shalaby and Ahmed Abdel Megeed), together with a public figure along with other delegations from human rights organizations from across Cairo, Giza and Alexandria, and foreign correspondents.

The inspection visit viewed inmates' condition at the prison’s hospital and the specialized clinics where they entered the patients’ wards and asked them about their health conditions and the healthcare services provided to them. Also, they inspected the operating rooms to ensure their readiness to conduct surgeries and it was confirmed that nearly 14 surgeries were conducted, during the past month, by the hospital’s doctors and hired consultants. The delegation also took a look at further facilities of the prison, including the library, the literacy classroom, and the religious preaching room for Christian prisoners, the kitchen, the laundry room, the baking chamber, the carpentry workshops that included products made by the prisoners.

Furthermore, they also watched the prisoners while exercising in the playground. During the visit, the delegation members conducted different interviews that were documented on camera with the prisoners to reflect on their conditions in the prison.