Two Human Rights groups have called on international bodies to prevail on the Nigerian government to halt the planned deportation of Ali Mahmoud Abdel-Wanis, an Egyptian Citizen currently detained in Nigeria.
The groups in separate letters, one signed by the Executive Director Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA Global Resource Initiative) Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the other by Justice for Human Rights – JHR AFD International addressed to various independent bodies with which the Nigeria government had signed treaties tackled the move to deport Abdel-Wanis.
The two groups jointly called on President Tinubu the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to rescind action on the deportation move as a show respect for the Convention Against Torture, which it ratified in 2001.
HURMA in its letter opined that Wanis planned deportation by the Nigerian government could expose him to wanton torture by the despot who now holds the reins of power in Arab Republic of Egypt .
“We are hereby calling upon the Nigerian government to stop the forced deportation order and to respect the Convention Against Torture, which it ratified in 2001.”
“We hereby join other local and international bodies request urgent intervention of your esteemed office to preserve the freedom of Ali Mahmoud Abdel-Wanis, an Egyptian citizen now arrested in Nigeria and facing forced deportation to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
“From general observations by all local and international communities who have followed the arrest of the Egyptian citizen, Ali Mahmoud Abdel-Wanis, it is observed that the victim stands a high risk of potential torture in the hand of the Military Despot presently in charge in the Arab Republic of Egypt if forcibly deported.
“The local and international organizations signatory to this include:
- EFDI International – Belgium
- Victims of Torture – Geneva
- Justice for Human Rights (JHR) – Turkey
- Tawasul for Human Rights – The Hague
- Human Rights Monitor – London
- Solidarity for Human Rights – Geneva
- Egyptian Human Rights Council – Geneva
- Alkarama for Human Rights – Geneva
- CEDAR for Human Rights – Lebanon
- El-Shehab Center for Human Rights – London
- Free Voice for Human Rights – Paris
- Najda for Human Rights – London
- International Lawyers Organization
- SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties – Geneva
- United Action for Democracy (U A D) Nigeria.
“Thanks for your anticipated prompt response.”
HURMA’s stance on the deportation saga was corroborated by AFD International Justice for Human Rights seeking Wanis unconditional release from detention and that he should not be deported to back to Egypt.
“The Justice for Human Rights Foundation (JHR Istanbul) – AFD Belgium – has followed up on the Nigerian authorities’ arrest of Egyptian citizen Ali Mahmoud Abdel-Wanis.
“As human rights organizations concerned with protecting and defending human rights, we stress the need for Ali Abdel-Wanis’s release and demand that he not be deported to Egypt.
“We also demand that the Nigerian authorities immediately release him and prevent his forcible deportation to Egypt.
“To this end, we have written to the following international bodies, urging them to intervene and take urgent action to save Ali Abdel-Wanis from the risk of torture if he is deported to Egypt:
- Mr. Volker Türk, High Commissioner for Human Rights – Geneva.
- Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Committee against Torture.
- Special Rapporteur on Torture. We are writing to you to save an Egyptian citizen who is threatened with forced deportation from Nigeria, where he will face imprisonment and torture.”
The group however requested an an urgent action to preserve the freedom of this citizen, who has been arrested and is being forcibly deported to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
“We demand that the Nigerian government halt the forced deportation and respect the Convention against Torture, which it ratified in 2001.”
