The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that they are following up with Italian authorities on the death of Egyptian prisoner Hassan Sharaf, who died after being transferred from a Viterbo prison to the city’s hospital following a suicide attempt.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that the Embassy in Rome acted immediately when prison administration notified them on July 24 that Sharaf was being transferred to hospital in critical condition.
According to Zeid, prison administration asked to inform Sharaf’s mother and give her permission to visit him in the hospital. Zeid added that the embassy contacted Sharaf’s family, who promptly demanded access to his medical reports.
He also said that the hospital’s administration informed the embassy on July 30 that Sharaf passed away from complications caused by the suicide attempt.
A delegation was sent to Viterbo to meet hospital and prison officials and better understand the circumstances of the incident, Zeid said.
Officials told the delegation that the deceased was transferred to hospital on 23 July completely unconscious, after hanging himself while in solitary confinement.
Zeid concluded by asserting that the Embassy is still in contact with Sharahf’s family to inform them of any developments, and addressed the prison administration with an official memorandum demanding an investigation into the incident.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
