The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the death of Amr Gamal Mahmoud Mohamed, a 38‑year‑old accountant, only hours after his arrest and detention inside the 15 May Police Station in Helwan, Cairo, under circumstances strongly suggesting that he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment.
According to information gathered by CFJ and testimonies from the family, Amr Gamal was arrested on the evening of Friday, 13 February, while standing outside his home in the Eighth District of 15 May City. He was taken to the nearby police station, and within only a few hours of his detention, the family was informed on the evening of Saturday, 14 February, that he had died in custody. His body was transferred to Al‑Nasr Hospital in Helwan.
The family reported that a member of the arresting force asked them to confirm that the death was “natural” to facilitate the release of the body. However, upon arriving at the hospital, they observed visible and scattered physical injuries on his body—injuries they said appeared to be clearly consistent with torture.
According to the family, the preliminary medical report issued by a doctor at Al‑Nasr Hospital attributed the death to a “sudden cardiac arrest,” without mentioning the visible injuries. They stressed that Amr had no known heart conditions and was in good health only hours before his arrest.
Information obtained by CFJ indicates that the prosecutor who examined the body noted the presence of injuries and ordered the transfer of the body to Zeinhom Forensic Authority for a full autopsy to document the injuries and determine the true cause of death.
The family added that they were surprised to find that the 15 May Police Station had filed a police report accusing Amr of drug trafficking and possession of a bladed weapon, accusations they strongly denied, affirming that he had no criminal record and was not involved in any unlawful activity.
CFJ emphasizes that the death of a detainee only hours after arrest, coupled with visible physical injuries, constitutes an extremely serious incident requiring an urgent, independent, and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances of the death, ensure accountability for all those involved or negligent, and prevent any tampering with evidence or interference with the investigation. The organization stressed that such measures are essential to safeguarding the right to life and ensuring the safety of all detainees in places of detention.