started · updated
Equatorial Guinea accused of abusing US deportees
Human rights organizations and lawyers are reporting severe abuses against individuals deported by the United States to Equatorial Guinea. Amnesty International has accused paramilitary police in Malabo of violently arresting and beating Ahmed Soliman of Egypt and Samson Birhane of Eritrea. The two men were reportedly taken from a hotel, had bags placed over their heads, and were held at gunpoint on charges of damaging hotel property, which rights groups claim are retaliatory for their public complaints about detention conditions.
Reports indicate that these deportees are being held in a hotel that President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has converted into a detention center for asylum seekers. This arrangement is part of a $7.5 million agreement between the United States and Equatorial Guinea. More than 40 people have reportedly been sent to the country under this program.
In a separate instance of deportation controversy, Pietro Graza, a Brazilian national, was deported to Equatorial Guinea by U.S. immigration authorities despite having been granted legal protection under the Convention Against Torture to prevent his return to Brazil. Graza has reported being unable to leave his location and has lost contact with legal counsel.
Entities
Ahmed Soliman · Amnesty International · Pietro Graza · Samson Birhane · Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lawyers and rights groups report that two US deportees were arbitrarily arrested, beaten, and held at gunpoint by police in Equatorial Guinea. www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo uses a hotel as a prison for asylum seekers sent from the US under a $7.5 million deal. www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Amnesty International claims the arrests were retaliation for public comments made by Ahmed Soliman, using false charges of property damage. newscentraltv.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Amnesty International accused Equatorial Guinea authorities of violently arresting and jailing two foreign nationals expelled from the United States. newscentraltv.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ahmed Soliman of Egypt and Samson Birhane of Eritrea are among more than 40 people deported by the United States to Equatorial Guinea. www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pietro Graza, a Brazilian man, was deported to Equatorial Guinea by ICE despite having legal protection from being returned to Brazil. instinctmagazine.com