CAIRO: The Saudi embassy in Cairo is investigating allegations that 10 Saudis in Egyptian prisons were subject to physical abuse and torture during the first chaotic days of the nationwide protests that saw Egyptian inmates escape or set free. The prisoners claim they were attacked by prison officials with tear gas and sticks. The allegations first came to light shortly after the protests began two weeks ago and Hassan Al-Buhairi, the spokesman for the embassy, said officials were working to return the prisoners to the Kingdom and contact the relevant authorities in the Egyptian government. “One of the prisoners is under a death sentence for drug smuggling,” he said. “That is holding up his return to the Kingdom. He said the man, whose case is under appeal, had entered Egypt via the port of Nuweiba from Al-Aqaba in Jordan. “He was imprisoned before the death sentence was issued.” Al-Buhairi said the 10 represented all the Saudis being held in Egypt. Eight are in Al-Qanatir Prison in Cairo, one in Al-Tour Prison in Sinai, while another is being held for investigation at a Cairo police station. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Saudi inmates at Al-Qanatir said that when the protests in Egypt started, groups of people entered the prison and freed the Egyptian detainees, but Central Security officials entered the block for foreigners and sprayed them with fire extinguishers and launched tear gas canisters. “Then lots of security officials came in with sticks and clubs and started hitting people in the face, head and feet,” they said. “One Saudi, a 65-year-old, collapsed unconscious because of the tear gas.” They described conditions at the prison as “intolerable”, with inedible food forcing them to give money to prison staff to buy tins of food from outside at exorbitant prices. They also said that staff sold them mobile telephone cards and other equipment and appliances at hugely inflated prices.
