An Egyptian journalist, Hassan al-Banna Mubarak, was arrested on Sunday and forcibly disappeared after being deported back to Egypt fom Jordan. He arrived in Jordan on Saturday to pursue a job opportunity.

The young reporter for the Al-Sharq newspaper was first arrested on 4 February 2018 and held in Tora prison in preventative detention for nearly two and a half years.

He faced charges related to joining a group that was established in violation of the law, spreading false news and statements, and misusing social media. His arrest coincided with a security crackdown that took place in early 2018, a few months before the presidential elections.

At the time the prison authorities refused a request by Mubarak’s family for him to be transferred to the prison infirmary because of chest pains and breathing problems.

On 17 April 2021, Mubarak officially left Cairo International Airport on board a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane heading to Jordan. He was subsequently forced to board a Royal Jordanian plane on the evening of 18 April 2021, accompanied by a security escort.

Nothing is currently known about his whereabouts.

His brother journalist Abdulrahman Faris, brother of journalist Hassan Al-Banna Mubarak, wrote on his Facebook page on Monday: “A security apparatus, namely Jordan, has deported my younger brother Hassan Al-Banna Mubarak and participates in endangering his security, freedom, and psychological and physical integrity. Hassan has been missing since 7:34 pm last night, and so far we don’t have a single piece of information about it.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights calls on the Jordanian authorities to meet their human rights obligations and not put the lives of journalists and activists at risk by deporting them to countries where they face significant risks to their lives.