On March 17, 2019 at 5 p.m., Mahmoud Qassim was walking to a grocery store in Al Saaeh Square in Alexandria when he was arrested and taken to an unknown location by members of the state security forces, who were dressed in plainclothes.

Two days after the arrest, the state security forces searched his apartment and confiscated his laptop and mobile phone. They arrested the landlord of his apartment, who was released five days later.

On March 23, Qassim’s family submitted complaints to the Public Prosecutor, the Council of Ministers, and the Ministry of Interior to inquire about his fate and whereabouts. On April 11, they submitted further complaints to the Director of the National Security Agency and the Public Prosecutor.

Two weeks after the arrest, Qassim’s family was informed unofficially by a former prisoner at Tora Prison that he had heard Qassim’s name being mentioned by prison guards in the high-security section of the prison.

On September 18, 2019 Qassim was killed by state security forces, which his family believe was an act of arbitrary execution. After the family formally identified him, and an autopsy was conducted by the state, on November 12 Qassim’s body was returned to his family and he was buried on the same day.