The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the arrest of a Russian student studying at Al-Azhar University by Egyptian authorities on April 19, 2025, followed by his deportation under the pretext of an expired visa.
The CFJ reported that, nearly one week after the arrest of the Russian student, he was transferred to Cairo International Airport on April 26, 2025, for deportation to his home country. However, shortly before boarding the flight, he was suddenly prevented from traveling and his personal phone was confiscated. Since that moment, all contact between him and his family ceased completely.
According to a direct testimony submitted to the Committee by his wife, she confirmed that the Russian consulate in Cairo attempted to intervene with the relevant Egyptian authorities on multiple occasions without receiving any official response. She added that she received unofficial information indicating that her husband had been detained at one of the facilities of Egypt’s National Security Agency, commonly referred to as “State Security,” without disclosing his location or health condition for more than thirty-five days.
She further stated that, after a long period of enforced disappearance, it became evident that the student had indeed been deported to Russia, after revealing the harsh conditions he endured during his detention. Upon arrival at Cairo airport, he was met by individuals claiming to be from the National Security Agency, who blindfolded him, bound his hands behind his back, and transported him to an unknown location within one of the security facilities.
According to the student’s own account, he was held in a windowless room on the third floor of the facility where he was interrogated by three men who identified themselves as members of the agency. During the interrogation, he was asked to disclose every detail of his personal life under threat of torture. He was accused of affiliating with illegal armed groups, shown photographs of Russian citizens, and asked to provide information about them — which he denied knowing.
He explained that during the following two days, he was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, including beatings with hands, sticks, and feet, electric shocks, and being stripped of his underwear. This treatment continued until he was later transferred to an unknown location and remained in custody until he was deported to Russia, with his family remaining unaware of the details of the deportation process or the authority responsible for issuing the order.
His wife pointed out that his physical and psychological condition deteriorated significantly as a result of what he endured. He lost a considerable amount of weight and showed signs of deep psychological trauma; he cannot tolerate darkness, wakes up frightened at night, has become withdrawn, and refuses to speak about what happened except with great difficulty. She added that upon arrival in Russia, he was immediately received by Russian intelligence, subjected to another interrogation, and his personal phone was confiscated.
In a message sent by the student himself after leaving Egypt, he confirmed that Egyptian security forces also arrested several other foreign students who were studying at Al-Azhar University on June 18, 2025. He indicated that the number ranged between four to five students, including two from Chechnya and two from Dagestan, though he was unable to identify their names or final fate.
The Russian student also attached video clips showing the arrest of some foreign students inside the university, suggesting the existence of a security campaign targeting international students, especially those from countries with Islamic backgrounds. So far, no official Egyptian entity has announced the identities of those detained or the charges brought against them.
For its part, The CFJ affirms full solidarity with these students and calls for impartial, transparent, and prompt investigations into the circumstances surrounding their arrest, enforced disappearance, and torture, as well as holding the perpetrators accountable and preventing impunity.
The committee also urges the Egyptian authorities to clarify the fate of the remaining detained students, explain the reasons for their detention, specify the charges brought against them, or release them immediately without conditions or
