Egypt has halted family visits to inmates at least until the end of this month citing the “public health and safety of inmates”. She suggested, as proposed by groups such as Human Rights Watch, a conditional release for prisoners of conscience and those who do not pose a threat to society. On Wednesday, Egyptian police detained four prominent women dissidents after they demanded the release of prisoners over coronavirus fears. “We are in front of the cabinet building, asking for the state to take serious steps regarding coronavirus in prisons. The country’s total prison population numbers around 106,000, including 60,000 political prisoners, according to the Arab Network for Human Rights Information.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 20, 2020 15:33 UTC