On July 6, 2020, a group of individuals belonging to the State Security Forces entered Ahmed Ayoub’s house and arrested him. As he was on the phone with a friend when the security forces knocked on the door, Ayoub was able to tell his friend to warn his parents that he was going to be arrested by the State Security Investigations Service, who were wearing civilian clothes. The connection was lost during the arrest. Shortly after, his mother came to the house and found that they searched the house and confiscated two laptops. A few days after, Ayoub’s family filed a complaint with the Public Attorney, but to no avail. They are particularly concerned about his health as Ayoub has “G6PD Deficiency Anemia” (i.e. a deficiency of white blood cells). Two months prior to his disappearance, he had second hernia surgery. As a result, he often loses consciousness due to the severity of his blood deficiency and needs medical care.

On July 15, 2020, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, urging the Egyptian authorities to take urgent action to locate him, place him under the protection of the law, and identify the perpetrators.

Ayoub’s fate and whereabouts remained unknown until August 18, 2020, when he was presented before the State Security Prosecution in Cairo.