Eritrean Embassy officials in Cairo have been given free access to Aswan Prison in Egypt and are working hand in hand with prison officers there to coerce Eritrean refugees sign deportation documents and go back to Eritrea unwillingly; in breach of Human rights conventions.

According to sources, yesterday 9th November, Eritrean Embassy staff came and tried to force the Eritrean prisoners to sign a deportation form which says “willingly to return to Eritrea”.  When they refused to do so, the Eritrean Embassy staff, Idris, spoke with the prison guard, and then the guards severely beat the prisoners for refusing.

The prisoners have been told that they will be returned to Eritrea today.

It is important to note most if not all of the prisoners had been arrested in the south of the country, very far from the heavily militarised and sensitive border region in Sinai. They are not a threat to national security, and had not trespassed into the conflicted region, so their treatment is completely in contravention to various Human Rights Conventions.

Last week, 118 Eritrean refugees were tortured by Aswan prison guards to sign repatriation documents.

Forced deportation of Eritrean refugees in Egypt is already underway.