Former Egyptian parliamentarian dies in prison

The octogenarian detainee and former parliamentarian Ragab Mohamed Abu Zeid Zair died after his health deteriorated in his prison cell, the CFJ said.

Zair was a member of the parliamentary bloc of Muslim Brotherhood deputies from the Shebin al-Kom constituency in Menoufia governorate.

He was among thousands of then-army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's opponents who were detained in 2013 following his coup against Mohamed Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president.

Zair was first detained in December 2013 and held in al-Qanater men's prison, and then again in October 2021, when he was held in Wadi al-Natroun prison complex, where he died.

Zair's family in February requested his release on medical grounds due to the deterioration of his health.

He was suffering a range of medical issues, including diabetes, bronchitis, an enlarged prostate, a weak heart muscle, as well as atrophy of the nerves of the hand. He also underwent a heart stent operation during his imprisonment.  (ILKHA)