The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the death of Egyptian citizen Ali Mahmoud Abdel‑Aal (39) from the Mit Oqba district in Giza, who died inside Agouza Police Station on the afternoon of Saturday, 14 February 2026, less than a week after his arrest. Multiple accounts and emerging information indicate that he was subjected to severe abuse that ultimately led to his death.
According to CFJ’s monitoring, Abdel‑Aal was arrested on 7 February while attending a family funeral. He was brought before the Agouza Prosecution, which ordered his pretrial detention on charges of possessing a weapon, after which he was returned to the police station.
Information obtained by CFJ indicates that he was subjected to intense physical and psychological abuse inside the detention facility after being stripped of his clothing. Testimonies report repeated and violent beatings. A preliminary medical examination conducted at Imbaba General Hospital revealed recent injuries across his head, chest, back, and feet—consistent with physical assault shortly before his death.
Despite this, the family was informed late on Saturday night—more than ten hours after the reported time of death—that he had died from a purported “lung rupture,” a claim his family strongly disputes, noting that he had no known chronic health conditions prior to his arrest.
CFJ also documented that the deceased had been denied visits during his detention, and that following his death, his body was reportedly left wrapped in a blanket in a corridor between detention rooms before being transferred to the hospital and his family notified.
The committee stressed that allegations involving torture and ill‑treatment inside detention facilities require an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation, including:
- Reviewing all surveillance footage from inside the detention area.
- Allowing the family full access to the complete forensic report.
- Conducting a neutral and professional autopsy to determine the precise cause of death and the nature of the injuries.
CFJ emphasized that protecting the right to life and ensuring the safety of detainees are legal obligations of the authorities, and that any violations committed inside detention facilities must result in full accountability, in accordance with the principles of the rule of law and human rights protections.
