Amnesty accuses Egypt of 'torture' in solitary confinement

Amnesty International today accused Egypt of keeping prisoners behind bars on politically motivated charges in prolonged solitary confinement and subjecting them to physical abuse, saying the practice amounts to torture.

"Dozens of detained human rights activists, journalists and members of the opposition held in solitary confinement are being targeted with horrendous physical abuse," the human rights group said in a summary of a report.

Amnesty's investigation "reveals that prisoners detained on politically motivated charges are being held in prolonged and indefinite solitary confinement in Egypt -- at times for several years -- which in and of itself amounts to torture."
"They are locked in their cells for 24 hours for weeks at end, denied any human contact and kept in horrific cell conditions."