Abduction of Basem and secret detention
While he was with his friend Eng Ayman in Mansoura, Basem was abducted by members of the security forces and brought to an unknown location. His family took various steps in order to locate him. They approached the head of the Police Prosecution Services of Mansoura and filed a complaint and sent a letter to the General Prosecutor's department of Mansoura. Both initiatives were unsuccessful as the authorities denied detaining Basem. Unfortunately, they faced this denial as well when they asked about him in different police stations of Mansoura.

His family was finally provided with information on Basem's fate when they were told by a lawyer and former prisoner that they saw him in al Azooli prison, in Ismailia. The victim's mother went to visit him there but the authorities continued to deny his detention, although she was told by current detainees that Basem was within the walls of this prison.

Al Azooli prison: a torture centre
The fact that Basem is being secretly detained in this branch is of grave concern for his family and Alkarama as it has been reported that it is in fact a secret military detention centre where torture is being systematically practiced against political detainees and protestors. Consequently, Basem is at high risk of being tortured and ill-treated while detained there.
In this sense, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal before the Working Group on Enforced Disappearance of the United Nations asking for the Egyptian authorities to immediately release him or at least that he be put under the protection of the law. It is important to remind the Egyptian authorities of their obligations under international law and that they cease to abduct and torture their own citizens with impunity.