17.It was reported in the 2017 report of the Secretary-General that on 3 May 2017, four special procedures mandate holders expressed concerns about the abduction, detention, torture and ill-treatment of Dr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha (see A/HRC/36/31, para. 39), reportedly in retaliation for his human rights work documenting cases of enforced disappearances for the special procedures (A/HRC/36/25, EGY 5/2017).On 10 March 2017, Dr. Amasha was allegedly abducted by police officers in Cairo, and no information was given about his whereabouts until 1 April 2017. He was charged on 13 April 2017 with “belonging to a banned group” under the Anti-Terrorism Law of Egypt and transferred to the Tora prison of Cairo. It was alleged that following his abduction on 10March 2017, he was secretly detained at the Central Police station of Abbasiya in the Cairo Governorate and subjected to torture and ill-treatment. On 27 April 2017, his detention was prolonged.There are serious concerns that the acts committed against Dr. Amasha constitute acts of reprisals against him for documenting cases of enforced disappearances for the special procedures (see A/HRC/39/31, para. 39). 18.During its eightieth session in November 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rendered its opinion that the detention of Mr. Amasha and other individuals was arbitrary, and requested the Government of Egypt toensure his and others’ immediate release and to take steps to remedy their situation, including, by according them an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations.The Working Group also referred the case to the Coordinating Committee of the Special Procedures and the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (see A/HRC/WGAD/2017/78, paras. 89-93)

On 31 July the Government provided an update. Regarding the case of Mr. Amasha, the Government noted that the accused is in pre-trial detention based on case number 316 of 2017 on charges of joining a group established contrary to law, calling for demonstrations without authorization, incitement to violence and other charges. He was recommended to undergo medical treatment and to follow up with the medical consultant in the prison’s clinic.

The case of Dr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha was included in the 2017 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/36/31, para. 33 and Annex I, para. 34; A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras. 17–18, 21) concerning his reported abduction, detention, torture and ill-treatment in retaliation for his work documenting cases of enforced disappearances for special procedures (EGY 5/2017). In November 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Dr. Amasha arbitrary and requested the Government to ensure his immediate release. 132 46. On 31 July 2018, the Government noted that Dr. Amasha was still in pre-trial detention on charges of joining a group established contrary to law, calling for demonstrations without authorization, incitement to violence and other charges. He was recommended to undergo medical treatment in the prison’s clinic. According to information received in May 2019, his family and lawyer have not been allowed to visit him in prison since his initial abduction in March 2017. His lawyers are able to see him only when he is presented to the prosecutor for the renewal of his pre-trial detention, during which time he is held in a glass cage in the presence of the prosecutor. Dr. Amasha reportedly suffers from urgent medical issues without adequate care, his conditions of detention are poor and he is frequently subjected to ill-treatment.

The case of Dr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha was included in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/36/31, para. 33 and Annex I, para. 34; A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras. 17–18, 21; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, paras. 45–46) on allegations of abduction, detention, torture following information he submitted to the UN. In November 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found his detention arbitrary and requested the Government to ensure his immediate release. 38 According to information received, on 10 September 2019, the Cairo Criminal Court ordered the provisional release of Dr. Amasha. Despite this decision, he remained in detention at Damietta Prison until 4 October 2019, when he was released on bail and required to report to the police station twice a week. It has been subsequently reported to OHCHR that, in June 2020, Dr. Amasha was arrested by police officers and his fate and whereabouts remained unknown. The case was brought to the attention of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

The case of Dr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha, human rights defender and co-founder of the League for the Families of the Disappeared who supported families of those forcibly disappeared and arbitrarily detained, including by submitting cases to the WGEID, was included in the 2019, 2018 and 2017 reports of the Secretary-General149 on allegations of abduction, detention, and torture. In November 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found Dr. Amasha’s detention arbitrary, requested his immediate release and called on the Government to provide him compensation and other reparations150 . On 4 October 2019, he was released on bail and required to report to the police station twice a week. 43. According to information received by OHCHR, on 17 June 2020, Dr. Amasha was arrested by police officers and his fate and whereabouts remained unknown until 12 July 2020 when he appeared at the office of the Supreme State Security Prosecutor for investigation on the charge of “joining a terrorist group” (Case No. 1360 of 2019). His whereabouts were again unknown until 7 December 2020, when Dr. Amasha was seen in a glass cell along with other detainees in Tora Maximum Security Prison II. He is reportedly summoned to appear before the Prosecutor every 15 days, who reportedly extends Dr. Amasha’s detention in absentia. During its September 2020 session, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances transmitted the case of Dr. Amasha under its urgent procedure (A/HRC/WGEID/122/1, para.79).

62. The case of Mr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha, human rights defender and co-founder of the League for the Families of the Disappeared who supported families of those forcibly disappeared and arbitrarily detained, including by submitting cases to the Working Group of Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), was included in the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of abduction, detention, and torture. In November 2017, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) found Mr. Amasha’s detention arbitrary, requested his immediate release and called on the Government to provide him with full reparations in accordance with international law. On 4 October 2019, he was released on bail and required to report to the police station twice a week. On 17 June 2020, he was arrested by police officers and his whereabouts were unknown until 12 July 2020 when he appeared at the Office of the Supreme States Security Prosecutor for investigation on the charge of “joining a terrorist group” (Case No. 1360 of 2019). His whereabouts were again unknown until 7 December 2020, when Mr. Amasha was seen in a glass cell along with other detainees in Tora Maximum Security Prison II. He is reportedly summoned to appear before the Prosecutor every 15 days, who reportedly extends Mr. Amasha’s detention in absentia.
63. According to information received by OHCHR, between June and July 2020, Mr. Amasha was allegedly tortured, and his left ribs were broken while in custody. He allegedly underwent forensic medical examination without a lawyer being present and never received the results. On 10 April 2022, his pre-trial detention was extended for another 45 days at the Institute of Police Secretaries in the Tora Prison in the presence of Mr. Amasha and his lawyer. Reportedly, the maximum period of pre-trial detention applicable to Mr. Amasha in accordance with Egyptian law will be reached in mid-July 2022. Mr. Amasha shares a cell of 3 by 1.5 meters with nine other inmates, and is denied access to medicines, books, pen and papers.

55. The case of Mr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha, a human rights defender and co-founder of the League for the Families of the Disappeared, has been included in reports of the Secretary-General since 201779 on allegations of abduction, detention, torture following his engagement on behalf of relatives with UN mechanisms, including the WGEID. In November 2017, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found Mr. Amasha’s detention arbitrary (A/HRC/WGAD/2017/78). On 4 October 2019, Mr. Amasaha was released on bail, but detained again in June 2020.
56. On 11 November 2022, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of detention, torture, ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention and deteriorating health status of Mr. Amasha (EGY 10/2022). On 29 August 2022, he was referred to the terrorism circuit of the Supreme State Criminal Court on charges of “knowingly joining and funding a terrorist group,” and his name was added to the existing Case No. 1360/2019, with another 37 defendants. Since his detention in Badr prison in September 2022, Mr. Amasha has allegedly been held in isolation in a cell with continuous electric lights on and 24-hour camera surveillance and is allowed little time for outdoor exercise. On 25 October 2022, Mr. Amasha reportedly joined other detainees in a hunger strike to protest prison conditions (EGY 10/2022).

79. The case of Mr. Ahmed Shawky Abdelsattar Mohamed Amasha, a human rights defender and co-founder of the League for the Families of the Disappeared, has been included in reports of the Secretary-General since 2017 on allegations of abduction, detention, and torture following his engagement with UN mechanisms, including the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances. In 2019, Mr. Amasaha was released on bail, but detained again in June 2020. Special Procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Amasha’s case on several occasions.
80. According to information received by OHCHR, Dr Amasha remains detained in the Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Badr 3 (Cairo). On 25 February 2024, the Cairo Criminal Terrorism Court postponed the hearing of his case until 14 April 2024.