The Egyptian authorities must immediately cease the mass arbitrary arrests and unlawful deportations of Sudanese refugees who had crossed the border into Egypt seeking refuge from the conflict in Sudan, Amnesty International said today, in a new report published ahead of World Refugee Day.
The report, “Handcuffed like dangerous criminals”: Arbitrary detention and forced returns of Sudanese refugees in Egypt, reveals how Sudanese refugees are rounded up and unlawfully deported to Sudan – an active conflict zone – without due process or opportunity to claim asylum in flagrant violation of international law. Evidence indicates that thousands of Sudanese refugees have been arbitrarily arrested and subsequently collectively expelled with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimating that 3,000 people were deported to Sudan from Egypt in September 2023 alone.
“It is unfathomable that Sudanese women, men and children fleeing the armed conflict in their country and seeking safety across the border into Egypt, are being rounded up en masse and arbitrarily detained in deplorable and inhumane conditions before being unlawfully deported,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
“Egyptian authorities must immediately end this virulent campaign of mass arrests and collective expulsions. They must abide by their obligations under international human rights and refugee law to provide those fleeing the conflict in Sudan with safe and dignified passage to Egypt and unrestricted access to asylum procedures.”
- Published in
- United Kingdom
Table of Contents
- Recently added 1
- Egypt: Authorities must end campaign of mass arrests and forced returns of Sudanese refugees 1
- DONATE TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS 1
- Arbitrary arrests from streets and hospitals 3
- Cold and rat-infested detention facilities before collective expulsions 3
- Related Content 4
- Egypt 4
- East and Southern Africa: Journalists targeted amid ongoing crackdown on media 4
- Egypt: Halt crackdown on people voicing concerns over economic crisis 5
- Sudan: UN and African Union must act swiftly to prevent mass atrocities in El Fasher 5
- World leaders must commit to protecting Syrian refugees as Lebanon steps up crackdown ahead of Brussels conference 5
- FOLLOW US ON: 5