Egyptian president transfers ownership of buildings from Police Ministry to National Treasury

CAIRO – 4 December 2022: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi issued Sunday decree no. 572/2022 transferring the ownership of a number of buildings, including former prisons, from the Ministry of Interior to the National Treasury.

Those include the Prison of Benha spanning over 14,398 square meters in Qalyoubeya governorate; Prison of Tanta stretching over 26,655 square meters in Gharbia governorate; Prison of Zagazig whose surface area is 8,647 square meters; Alexandria's prison and Hadra Prison extending across 22,038 square meters; and a Beheira prison that lied on 28,313 square meters.

That is in addition to the buildings of the General Department of Central Security in each of Alexandria and Cairo spanning over 45,240 square meters and 16,256 square meters, respectively.

Further, there are sports complexes in Cairo stretching over 15,000 square meters, and two camps in the same governorate extending across 41,639 square meters and 23,000 square meters.

The Ministry of Interior announced in October 2021 that the new prison complex in Wadi Al Natroun would substitute 12 prisons, constituting 25 percent of Egypt's prisons.

The ministry explained that the investment cost of shutting down those prisons exceeds the construction and equipment costs of the complex dubbed "The Reform and Rehabilitation Center of Wadi Al Natroun," and that was built in just 10 months.

The prisons to be closed are those of Cairo Appellate, Torra, Cairo Torra, Benha, Alexandria, Tanta, Mansoura, Shbein al-Kom, Zagazig, Old Damanhour,  Work Camp of Beheira, and Menya.

The ministry's press release was issued on the occasion of organizing a visit for diplomats, journalists, parliamentarians, and human rights activists to the facility.

The statement explained that the complex houses projects of industrial, agricultural, cattle, pourtly, and fish production. Those projects would both accomplish self-sufficiency at the complex's prisons, and generate income to prisoners.

Hospitals, consisting of 16 dialysis units, 4 operating theaters, 300 beds, 28 intensive care beds, isolation room, scan and blood test laboratories, blood bank, four baby incubators, specialized clinics, and a pharmacy, have been introduced either, as well as cells suitable for disabled inmates. 

The ministry noted that prisoners, who go through a critical health condition, get transferred to regular public hospitals.

Further, to facilitate the transportation of defendants prosecuted in custody and convicts appealing their sentences, a court complex has been established at the center and is being managed by the Ministry of Justice.

The court complex comprises eight trial halls, having a total capacity of 800 individuals. 

There are also a mosque, a church, and an addiction treatment rehab.