ABUJA– Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA Global Resource Initiative) and Justice for Human Rights – JHR AFD International have called on international governments to prevail on the Nigerian government to halt the planned deportation of Ali Mahmoud Abdel-Wanis, an Egyptian Citizen currently detained in Nigeria.
The two bodies made this known in a seperate letters addressed to both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and various independent bodies with which the Nigeria government had signed treaties tackled the move to deport Abdel-Wanis.
The Executive Director Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA Global Resource Initiative) Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak, jointly with JHR AFD International called on President Tinubu, to rescind action on the deportation move as a show of 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.”
