British MP calls for investigation into Morsi death

LONDON

A British parliamentarian has called for an international and independent investigation into the death of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, who headed the Detention Review Panel for Mohamed Morsi in 2018, said that Morsi was "not an ordinary prisoner" and his death is representative of the Egyptian government’s "inability to uphold prisoners’ rights."

The senior parliamentarian made clear that the government of Abdel Fatah el-Sisi has a duty to explain the death of the former president and should be held accountable for the treatment given to him while in custody. Blunt also called for an investigation into the cause of Morsi’s death.

“Dr Morsi was no ordinary prisoner," Blunt said.

He said "He [Mohamed Morsi] was elected President of Egypt in 2012. He has died whilst in the custody of the Egyptian state, the same state apparatus that was forcibly taken control of by the Egyptian military in June 2013.”

“Dr Morsi’s death in custody is representative of Egypt’s inability to treat prisoners in accordance with both Egyptian and international law” he added.

Blunt also explained how, under Egyptian and international law, the detention of Morsi “could meet the threshold of torture” and as the conditions of Morsi’s detention was well known throughout all departments of the government, el-Sisi himself could be held responsible for the crime of torture and ultimately his death.

According to Blunt, the Egyptian government did not allow an independent review of Morsi’s detention and to assess the treatment being given to him by the authorities. Moreover, the MP’s initiative to lead an independent review was condemned by the Egyptian parliament.

Inadequate medical care

In 2018, the Conservative MP chaired the review panel of MPs and lawyers and after extensive research concluded that Morsi received “inadequate medical care, particularly inadequate management of his diabetes and inadequate management of his liver disease” and that his detention was below what is expected from international standards and would constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

The panel also concluded that due to Morsi’s long term medical conditions and the inadequate level of care and treatment given to him, the rapid deterioration of his health was widely expected and one that would lead to a premature death.

“The Egyptian government has a duty to explain his unfortunate death and there must be proper accountability for his treatment in custody” Blunt said.

“We found culpability for torture rests not only with direct perpetrators but those who are responsible for or acquiesce in it", he added.

President Morsi became Egypt’s first democratically-elected leader when he was elected in 2012 and was ousted in a bloody military coup by then chief of staff general Abdel Fatah el-Sisi in 2013.

Along with thousands of others, Morsi was put into solitary confinement and was denied much needed medical assistance as his health rapidly deteriorated over the years.

Since the 2013 military coup, the regime has cracked down on all channels of legal dissent and opposition, arresting many supporters of Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood and those who are are simply against the coup with many more being killed.

The regime has systemically tortured many political prisoners and has denied them the right to fair representation and a fair trial.