FOLLOW-UP ON VISIT TO PRISONER NABIL SOLIMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006878

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016
TAGS: PHUM PTER CASC KISL EG
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON VISIT TO PRISONER NABIL SOLIMAN

REF: CAIRO 6769

Classified By: DCM Stuart Jones, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Pursuant to reftel, POLOFF approached the Torah Prison
warden on November 5 regarding reinstating prisoner Nabil
Soliman's family visitation rights (Note: Due to the
low-quality of meals in Egyptian jails, many prisoners get
most of their food from their families during regular visits;
Soliman had been doing that prior to the suspension of his
family visitation rights. Per reftel, now that he cannot
obtain food from his relatives, he is on a hunger-strike.
End note). The warden emphasized that Soliman had violated
prison rules by smuggling a cellphone into the facility, and
was being punished in accordance with the appropriate
regulations. In response to poloff's queries as to when the
punishment period will end and Soliman's family be permitted
to visit again, the warden said that the decision to
reinstate a prisoner's visitation rights is based upon the
prisoner's history of violations and current behavior, and
thus he could not make any predictions as to the duration of
Soliman's punishment.
RICCIARDONE