Mazen Mansoor AlWanna was a 35-year-old traffic and insurance broker when he was arrested during a raid to his home in January 2013. Tortured into confessing and forced to sign papers without knowing their content, Mazen was convicted with seven others in a terrorism case known as the ‘Imam Army Cell’. In Jau Prison, Mazen’s health has deteriorated as he has not received proper treatment for pre-existing conditions and he has since contracted COVID-19. 

On 26 January 2013, at 1:30 a.m., Mazen and his family were awakened by a loud knock on the door by more than 30 masked officers in civilian clothing and officers from the Ministry of Interior, including riot police, security police officers, and CID officers. They raided and searched Mazen’s family home without presenting a search or arrest warrant and without stating the reason for the arrest. The arresting forces also had a photographer with them who was videotaping the whole process. After confiscating various electronic devices, officers took Mazen to a bus outside his house parked among 50 to 60 other police cars surrounding the neighborhood. Officers blindfolded and handcuffed him. 

For the first five days of his arrest, Mazen’s family did not know where he was or what had happened to him until he called them for five minutes on 31 January 2013 to reassure them that he was okay. Mazen was interrogated without a lawyer and was tortured into providing a confession. Investigation officers at the CID in Adliya sexually harassed Mazen, electrocuted him, beat him, held him in a cold room and forced him to stand for two whole days. They also forced him to sign papers without knowing their contents, under the threat to assault his wife. 

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