Individuals at Risk

Over two months after Egypt began deporting asylum-seekers back to Eritrea on June 11, at least 740 of those deported now sit in the Eritrean Wia prison camp without charge, facing prolonged beatings, stress positions and exposure to extreme heat.

Most of those still in detention are single men and women, as children and pregnant women were released after a few weeks in prison.

In June Egypt deported over 1400 Eritreans, violating the 1951 Refugee Convention and the UN Convention against Torture and going against UN mandates urging countries not to deport any Eritrean asylum-seekers. Many of the asylum-seekers fled Eritrea to escape the country's mandatory military service for anyone between the ages of 18 and 40 and to gain religious freedom.

Amnesty International has been following this case since the deportations began, and we now urge our members to write to both Eritrean and Egyptian authorities asking that both countries follow international law in not torturing those detained and releasing those who are held without recognizable charge. Amnesty International is also requesting that Egypt releases the names of those they deported and that Eritrea releases the names of those still in detention. For further information on this Urgent Action, please see Urgent Action 225/08.

Chelsea Toy - Individuals at Risk