Egyptian prosecutors have ordered a forensic autopsy into the death of a young detainee at Al-Haram police station in Giza, the second such incident reported at the facility in four months, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
The detainee, Tarek Ashraf Al-Sayed Mahfouz, had been held at the station since Dec. 3 following a domestic dispute. His family was informed on Wednesday that he had fallen ill. When his mother and brother arrived at the station, they were told he had died, EIPR said in a statement Thursday.
The prosecution has assigned a forensic team to determine the cause of death and whether it resulted from illness, negligence or violence. Two fellow detainees who shared a cell with Mahfouz have been summoned to testify, and criminal investigators have been instructed to open an inquiry.
Family alleges signs of abuse
Reda Marai, a lawyer with the EIPR and the family’s legal representative, told Al Manassa the victim’s mother and brother believed his death was criminal in nature after observing bruises, unusual injuries and signs of cyanosis. “Their son was beaten,” he said.
The family filed a complaint at the Al-Haram prosecution office demanding an immediate investigation. It was registered as administrative case No. 20217 of 2025.
Marai said the family does not know who inflicted the injuries and is waiting for the prosecution to determine whether fellow detainees or police officers were responsible. He added that the body showed signs of bruising and cyanosis.
Repeated deaths raise oversight concerns
This is the second death reported at Al-Haram police station since August, when Wael Youssef Khairy, 21, known as “Kyrillos,” died in custody. His body showed signs of beating and torture. The Interior Ministry said his injuries were the result of a fight with three other detainees, after which he fell ill and later died in hospital.
EIPR called for a “prompt and transparent” investigation into Mahfouz’s death and urged prosecutors to review CCTV footage, expedite the autopsy report, and protect detainee witnesses.
The group also demanded accountability for those found responsible and called for Egypt’s definition of torture to be amended to comply with the UN Convention Against Torture, which the country has ratified.
The safety of detainees is the responsibility of the Interior Ministry from the moment of arrest, the organization said.
Egyptian authorities have faced growing criticism over detention conditions and alleged abuse in police custody. Earlier this week, the National Council for Human Rights noted in its 18th annual report the death of Mahmoud Mika at Khalifa police station in March as part of a wider pattern.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, however, defended the government’s record during a Thursday meeting with the Senate’s human rights and social solidarity committee, claiming conditions had improved and some inmates at rehabilitation centers “refused to leave” after serving their sentences.
