HRW condemns Eritrean refugees' ill-treatment in Egypt

HRW condemns Eritrean refugees' ill-treatment in Egypt



By Manar Ammar

First Published 12/23/2008
CAIRO: The Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Egypt to halt the deportation of Eritrean asylum-seekers and to cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Egyptian authorities are keeping in custody around 98 Eritrean migrants near the city of Al-Arish with plans to deport them.

Officials from the Eritrean embassy have frequently visited the detained group, taken pictures and filled out forms to legalize the deportation, while the UNHCR were denied access, HRW said.

"It is outrageous for the Egyptian authorities to give Eritrean embassy officials access to their nationals who fear persecution at the hands of this government, while barring the UNHCR that should review their asylum claims,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW.

Egypt has forcibly returned around 1,200 Eritreans in June who crossed the southern boarder illegally. According to HRW sources, 740 of the migrants were held in a military prison where they are subjected to ill-treatment and even torture.

Egypt is also denying UNHCR access to 139 African migrants who were arrested while trying to cross the Egyptian border with Israel.

"They are being deprived of their legal rights," said Akram Othman, researcher and translator at the African and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA).

Activists and human rights organizations have tried to bring attention to the ill-treatment of refugees in detention centers that offers minimum medical attention, if any at all, Othman said.

"They are in bad shape, no medical attention is being given to those [who need it] … one man is in danger of losing his leg due to lack of proper care," he added.

UNHCR was not available for comment.