Youssef Zahri, a Palestinian national, was arrest in April 2008 in Al-Arish, near Egypt's border with Gaza, and accused of illegally entering the country through an underground tunnel. Fellow inmates confirm that since his arrest he was continuously tortured - at Burg al-Arab and SSI Headquarters in Nasr City, Cairo and finally at SSI Headquarters in Alexandria. His death is clearly as a result of the torture he was exposed to throughout his detention.

Events leading to his death

Youssef Zahri was originally arrested on 28 April 2008. There is no doubt that his arrest was connected with his brother's activities as a member of Hamas.

Sources inside Egypt informed Alkarama that the Palestinian prisoner was transported nearly two weeks ago from Burg al-Arab prison to SSI Headquarters in Alexandria. Zahra Youssef was detained by the SSI for four consecutive days, during which time he suffered severe torture which ultimately led to cranial hemorrhaging and bleeding. Once his health had finally completely deteriorated, the Intelligence Services took him back to Burg al-Arab prison.

Given the seriousness of his condition, he was urgently evacuated to Alexandria University Hospital, where medical emergency staff, for reasons which remain unknown, refused to treat him. He was once again brought into custody and died in his cell on 13 October 2009.

Egyptian officials claim that he died of natural causes.

Egyptian impunity

Based on evidence from this most recent case and numerous past events, it has become evidently clear that Egyptian security forces have been using torture in a systematic manner. Despite on-going condemnation from human rights NGOs and the international community, Egyptian security forces continue to use torture on a large-scale with total impunity.

Alkarama will raise Youssef Zahri's case with the UN special procedures in due course. Our organisation intends to present his case to the Special Rapporteur on Torture and to the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.