On 30 December 2005, the Egyptian Security Forces evacuated by force about 1500 Sudanese migrants and refugees who were settled in Moustafa Mahmoud Square in front of UNHCR Headquarters. They had requested to be relocated to third countries since 29 September 2005. Early in the morning, reportedly some 2000 police officers surrounded the improvised encampment, fired water cannons into the crowd and beat individuals with clubs in order to end the sit-in. Reportedly at least 27 individuals died and many others were injured following the Egyptian Security Forces’ attack. As of today, no clear information is available neither on the number and the situation of wounded persons nor on the location of numerous persons arrested by the police forces.
These deplorable acts constitute a flagrant violation of multiple international standards binding Egypt, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW). FIDH and EOHR also recall that the Republic of Egypt is party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees ratified in 1981 and that the rights to refugees are guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution.
Following the above-mentioned events, FIDH and EOHR urge the Egyptian authorities to :
Open an investigation into the serious incidents which occurred on 30 December 2005 and to ensure that the perpetrators of the acts of violence will be brought to justice;
Take measures to ensure that police officers act in compliance with the international standards and to put an end to the disproportionate use of force;
Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of all migrants and refugees and to provide all necessary medical treatments to people injured during the police attack;
Provide information on the places where Sudanese migrants and refugees arrested are settled or detained since 30 December 2005 and to take concrete measures to protect refugees and migrants against all the range of human rights violations to which they can be subjected;
More generally, FIDH and EOHR call upon the Egyptian authorities to :
Adopt a specific law on refugees, asylum seekers and migrants protection which complies with the international law and in particular, with the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol and the ICRMW;
Furthermore, FIDH and EOHR urge the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to take up this issue.