Ahmed Nazier El-Helou, a cassation lawyer and human rights defender, has completed three full years behind bars, as his pretrial detention continues since his arrest in November 2022. This prolonged detention has effectively turned pretrial detention into a punitive measure, without a court ruling and based on vague charges such as “spreading false news” and “joining a terrorist group” — accusations systematically used to target lawyers and human rights defenders. During this period, El-Helou was subjected to enforced disappearance and now faces severe medical neglect.
Known as “Ahmed El-Helou,” he is a cassation lawyer and a prominent human rights defender who has provided legal assistance to numerous individuals detained in politically motivated and public opinion cases. His primary and constant mission — as described by one of his colleagues — was to offer legal aid and attend interrogations before the Supreme State Security Prosecution or at Badr Prison.
El-Helou is widely recognized for his calm demeanor, organizational skills, and profound legal expertise. His legal pleadings have been studied in numerous cases before terrorism circuit courts, where judges respected and appreciated his professionalism and dedication.
Before November 2022, El-Helou had never been arrested or detained by any security authority throughout his career defending victims and detainees. His first arrest occurred on November 7, 2022, when a security force stopped him near his home in Fifth Settlement, east of Cairo, after he had attended interrogations before the Supreme State Security Prosecution defending pretrial detainees. He was taken to an undisclosed location amid a broad security crackdown coinciding with calls for protests on November 11, 2022, and the COP27 climate summit hosted in Sharm El-Sheikh. El-Helou was forcibly disappeared for six days at a National Security facility, while his family sent telegrams to the Public Prosecutor and the Minister of Interior seeking information about his fate.
On November 13, 2022, after six days of enforced disappearance, the Supreme State Security Prosecution began interrogating El-Helou and ordered his detention for 15 days pending Case No. 1940/2022 (Supreme State Security). He was charged with “broadcasting and publishing false news and statements,” “misusing social media,” and “participating in a terrorist group with knowledge and promoting its purposes.”
Egyptian human rights lawyers stated that El-Helou’s arrest was part of a security campaign launched alongside calls for protests on November 11. Activists and lawyers organized several campaigns demanding that the Egyptian authorities disclose his whereabouts, using hashtags such as #WhereIsAhmedNazier.
On November 9, 2022, Committee for Justice called on Egyptian authorities to reveal El-Helou’s fate and release him immediately and unconditionally, stressing that his arrest was linked to his work as a human rights lawyer and his right to freedom of expression.
On September 9, 2024, El-Helou’s family announced that his wife had filed a complaint to Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky Ayad, reporting severe medical neglect in detention and demanding his immediate release due to his deteriorating health. She stated that El-Helou had become paralyzed and unable to move, holding the authorities and the prosecution fully responsible for his life. The complaint detailed that his health had worsened drastically, leaving him unable to walk due to untreated spinal disc problems requiring surgery for months. He also suffers from chronic stomach ulcers, diabetic foot complications, and severe neuropathy, without receiving any treatment. His wife requested a medical release and hospital treatment at his own expense.
On December 4, 2024, the Supreme State Security Prosecution referred El-Helou to trial before terrorism circuit courts at Badr Court Complex in Case No. 1940/2022, which includes 119 other defendants, while keeping him in custody.
On December 22, 2024, Committee for Justice strongly condemned the arbitrary measures against El-Helou, stating that these practices violate his fundamental rights and worsen his critical health condition. The Committee demanded his immediate release, urgent medical care, and humane detention conditions, stressing the need to end ongoing violations against human rights defenders in Egypt and holding authorities responsible for the near-total absence of healthcare in prisons and detention facilities.
Committee for Justice firmly denounces the continued detention of cassation lawyer and human rights defender Ahmed Nazier El-Helou since his arrest in November 2022, marking three years of arbitrary pretrial detention in blatant violation of the Egyptian Constitution and international treaties ratified by Egypt. Using pretrial detention as a punitive tool, renewed periodically without fair trial, constitutes a direct breach of Article 54 of the Egyptian Constitution guaranteeing personal liberty and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibiting arbitrary detention. His continued detention despite severe health deterioration and denial of medical care also violates the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) and poses a grave threat to his life.
Committee for Justice calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmed Nazier El-Helou, end the use of pretrial detention as a de facto punishment against human rights defenders, and ensure a fair trial and urgent medical care in line with international standards.
