HRW Calls for Investigation of Morsi’s Death

Washington, MINA – Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday called for an investigation into the death of Mohamed Morsi.

HRW called for an independent and international investigation by the United Nations on the death of Mohamed Morsi, the first and only democratically elected president in Egypt.

The group said the United Nations Human Rights Council had to investigate various human rights violations in Egypt, including the death of Mohamed Morsi, Anadolu Agency reported on Monday.

“The death of former President Morsi occurred after years of government persecution, prolonged confinement, inadequate medical care, and a lack of family visits and access to lawyers,” Sarah Leah Whitson, director of Middle East and North Africa at HRW said in a press release.

“At the very least, Egyptian government committed a serious violation of Morsi by denying the right of prisoners who meet minimum standards.”

Morsi died after falling into a coma while in a courtroom during one of his trials, according to the national Egyptian television station.

“Egyptian government failed for six years to give Morsi basic rights as detainees, including medical care and adequate family visits, even though his condition appeared to deteriorate and his repeated requests to the court for access to medical care,” said the rights group.

It was said that the treatment of former president violated international law and could be considered torture under the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

Egyptian government deliberately chose Morsi for harsh treatment and isolation, Whitson said.

“Whatever someone’s views on Morsi’s politics, the treatment is terrible, and those who are responsible must be properly investigated and prosecuted,” she continued.

Morsi won the country’s first free presidential election in 2012 after former leader Hosni Mubarak resigned after a mass demonstration.

However, after serving only one year in the presidential office, he was overthrown and jailed in a bloody military coup led by the then Egyptian defense minister and current president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Human Rights Watch said that the trial against Morsi did not meet the basic standards of legal proceedings and the case against him appeared to be politically motivated.

“A family member told HRW that even during a court session, security forces guarded the former president in a glass that isolated him from other prisoners and his lawyer. Most media have been banned from covering up their trials, “said the group.

According to records taken from three security guards who accompanied Morsi’s family during a visit, Morsi did not have a bed in his cell at Cairo’s al-Molhaq Prison, part of the Tora Prison Complex.

Morsi also complained of pain in his neck and back from sleeping on the floor.

He also experienced conditions in his left eye and the prison doctor said he might need surgery. However, there is no medical follow-up for this health problem.

Morsi also has diabetes, according to human rights groups, and told the judge several times that he had diabetic coma while in prison for lack of medical attention.

However, the judge who heard his case never ordered an investigation of his treatment or his condition in prison.

Muslim Brotherhood has previously called on the United Nations to encourage adequate medical care for the former president, citing his neglect while being detained. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)