(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Mahmoud Mohamed Hussein was 18 years old when he was arrested. . Today he has grown a little older, and wonders at what age he will possibly be released from prison. Like thousands of young political detainees in Egypt, Hussein's fate remains unknown due to an excessively long period of pre-trial detention that has surpassed 580 days.
Hussein, a teenager, is still unable to figure out the reason behind his detention. He found himself being transferred from one prison to another, and being held with criminal convicts and other political detainees he personally differs with ideologically, such as political Islamists.
Further, Hussein's brother Tarek 'Tito' has been prosecuted under both the current regime and that of the Muslim Brotherhood. Daily News Egypt spoke to Tito, who is handling the files of political detainees, rights and freedoms at Al-Dostour Party, a political opposition party.
Going through the details of Hussein's case, Tito sheds light on the injustice faced by many youth held behind bars, the oppressive practices of the post-30 June regime, and most importantly, pre-trial detention, a tool he explains is carefully manipulated by authorities to uphold youth repression.
Hussein's 'ambiguous' case
Hussein was arrested on 25 January 2014. It was the third anniversary of the revolution and protests erupted across Egypt demanding the rights citizens had called for back in the 2011 mass riots: bread, freedom, human dignity and social justice.
On that day, thousands were arrested during and after the protests. Hussein was caught along with a friend at the security checkpoint of El-Marg, while he was on his way home to Qaliubiya. According to different testimonies, the moment of his arrest and the few days that followed were marked by physical assaults on him by security forces.
"He was taken to El-Marg police station, which we refer to as 'the butchery' for having a history and reputation in torturing detainees," Tito said. "Hussein was beaten and electrocuted in different parts of his body," he continued.
On his first day, Hussein was brought before National Security officials and El-Marg prosecution authorities for questioning. He was assaulted once more and threatened in order to confess to crimes of "belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, and a long list of charges", said Tito, recalling how he had begged his parents to take him with them.
Hussein's case has been ambiguous and confusing for his lawyers, family and even the public. On Wednesday, Tito said an unexpected court session was being held for Hussein. "I do not understand anything anymore," he said.
They are no terrorists, yet spend their youth in prison
One of the hardest things Tito believes his brother is facing is that he is spending the best days of his life in prison, like many youth, who are not terrorists, but rather students and young people with dreams and aspirations. Hussein is talented in drawing and wants to pursue studies in arts.
"Take Asmaa Hamdy's case for instance. She is a medical school student who happened to be at Al-Azhar University when a protest took place," Tito said. "She is not a terrorist; on the contrary she was going to become a doctor and positively serve her society and country."
Hamdy is spending her time in jail producing bags so she can support her family. Similarly, Hussein is deprived of his youth, "just because he dreamt of a nation without torture", Tito said.
He also pointed to the fact that many youth suffer health conditions that call in to question allegations of their involvement in violence. "For instance Esraa El-Taweel was on a wheelchair and under treatment for a problem with her leg, and Hussein also had undergone an operation in the leg before his arrest, "he said.
According to his testimony, after spending a couple of months in prison, the detention time leaves the detainee with his own thoughts and emotions. "One feels severely oppressed and misjudged, thinking that all of this is happening after a revolution," Tito said.
If books are allowed in, detainees can spend some time reading, but other than that they keep thinking of lost rights, and most of all they keep waiting, and the conditions of detention are inhumane and lack medical care, Tito said.
In addition, sudden security raids on the detention cells aim at 'stealing' their belongings and beating prisoners, according to details from formerly detained photojournalist Ahmed Gamal Ziada.
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