Can new prisons improve the situation in Egypt’s jails?
Reports by the UN and human rights groups allege abuse and poor conditions
Africa Daily · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
Countless reports by the United Nations, Amnesty International and human rights groups have detailed allegations of inhumane conditions inside Egypt’s prison cells. The government refutes the claims, saying they’re politically motivated and based on fake accounts. But it’s also refused to give numbers for the amount of people locked up. It’s now opened some new ‘correctional and rehabilitation complexes’ to house political prisoners amongst others. It says they have state of the art technology, including high tech cameras. Mpho Lakaje hears about life in prison from a young man who was imprisoned as a teenager after he was arrested during the 2013 anti-government protests, and from a human rights lawyer who says the new prisons won’t improve the situation.