MDE 12/004/2006
Further Information on UA 02/06 (MDE 12/001/2006, 4 January 2006) and follow-up (MDE 12/003/2006, 06 January 2006) -
Fear of forcible return/fear of torture and ill-treatment
EGYPT : Up to 650 Sudanese nationals
02 February 2006
The Egyptian authorities extended the time it had initially granted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cairo to interview detained Sudanese demonstrators, and the UNHCR completed its final interview by 27 January.
The authorities released 440 of the detainees on the UNHCR’s recommendation, between 7 and 20 January. Of the 183 demonstrators still in detention, the UNHCR has recommended that 14 be released immediately as they had applied for asylum.
The remaining detainees were found not to be in need of international protection. They are still in custody, but the Egyptian authorities have announced that they will not deport them and that they will grant them visas.
No further action is requested from the UA network.
Thank you to all who sent appeals.