Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has been mocked on social media over a high-profile announcement that the government planned to build the country’s largest-ever prison complex.
Critics of the president’s announcement said they were expecting the authorities to build hospitals, schools and houses in a country which has a severe housing shortage and a water crisis.
Areej Algana wrote: “I have always heard about presidents bragging about the largest medical, industrial or scientific complex but not about a prison complex. It is a first.”
Haytham Abokhalil commented: “This comes at a time when there’s a shortage in hospitals and schools. Welcome to the national human rights strategy.”
Egypt has been criticised by human rights groups and the United Nations for its human rights records. They say that under President Sisi the country has seen its heaviest crack down on dissidents.
The US has decided to withhold a portion of its aid to Cairo unless human rights conditions improve including the release of activists.[BBC]
