Nubian activist Mohamed Saleh Sorour (also known as Gamal Sorour) died on 4 November after falling into a diabetic coma, while in detention in Aswan, in the south of Egypt.

According to his relatives, Gamal Sorour had been suffering from diabetes and had two heart attacks two years ago. He had been receiving regular treatment for his health problems, before his arrest on 3 September for partaking in a peaceful protest. Despite other inmates repeatedly knocking on the cell door begging prison guards for help, it took prison authorities three hours to take Gamal Sorour to the hospital, according to lawyers and relatives. As a result his death can be directly attributed to medical neglicence.

Security forces arrested Gamal Sorour along with 24 other Nubian activists, after the police violently dispersed their peaceful protest in Aswan on 3 September. Under the slogan of “the Nubian Assembly Day”, activists from the Nubian community in Aswan sang Nubian songs during the protest and called for their right to return to their historical lands, following waves of internal displacement.

Protesters had just gathered and marched 500 meters in al-Guzzayra square in downtown Aswan, when security forces surrounded them, and attacked the participants. Police arrested 25 of the men and took them to al-Shalal Security Forces camp in Aswan. They were not allowed access to their families or lawyers for four days. The day after their arrest, prosecutors arrived at the camp and interrogated the men in the absence of their lawyers. Prosecutors ordered their detention on charges of “participating in an unauthorized protest” and “possessing publications harmful to national unity and public safety” and have been renewing their detention since then.