The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the decision by Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution to place attorney and legal representative of the Tenants’ Defense League, Ayman Essam, under a 15-day pre-trial detention, following his referral to the prosecution by the National Security Agency after his sudden arrest in Alexandria governorate.
Attorney Essam was abducted from outside his home under mysterious circumstances three days earlier and remained missing throughout this period, in what is described as an enforced disappearance, before appearing on Sunday, June 22, 2025, before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, which ordered his pre-trial detention on charges of “joining a terrorist group,” without providing clear details regarding the justification for the charge or the evidence presented.
This incident comes after Essam’s participation in legal and community activities opposing the draft amendments to the old rent laws recently approved by the Housing Committee of the House of Representatives, which several activists and lawyers have described as unjust toward the most vulnerable groups.
Essam had previously expressed his legal opposition to the clauses aiming to abruptly liberalize rental relations without sufficient protection guarantees for tenants.
The lawyer was also arrested while heading to attend a founding meeting of the “Tenants’ Defense League,” raising questions about the real motives behind his arrest, especially in light of the growing public debate surrounding the proposed amendments.
In response, The CFJ continues to monitor developments in the case and strongly condemns the use of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances against activists, lawyers, and professionals working within a peaceful and legal framework. The committee calls for his immediate release, full disclosure of the circumstances of his arrest and detention, the right to express his views peacefully, and ensuring a safe environment for him to carry out his professional and human rights work.
