Anger over Sudan activist's 'secret rendition'

[Nergal]

 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for Sudan to release a 35-year-old activist after his secret rendition from Egypt.

Mohamed Boshi, a vocal critic of the government, had sought asylum in Egypt through the UN refugee agency in 2017, but went missing on 10 October, the US-based rights group said.

HRW's Jehanne Henry said:

Egyptian and Sudanese authorities co-operated in forcibly disappearing and returning an asylum-seeker to Sudan, in clear violation of international norms and the prohibitions on enforced disappearances, persecution, and torture.

Having unlawfully detained him for weeks, Sudan has now charged him with serious crimes that carry the death penalty. They should drop the charges and release him immediately."

Mr Boshi disappeared after five armed men, believed to be Egyptian security agents, searched his apartment in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, witnesses told HRW.

On 8 November, Sudan’s national security agency said he was being charged with espionage and crimes against the state.

According to HRW, relatives and lawyers have not been permitted to visit him.

Boshi, formerly a member of an opposition party, has been detained and beaten twice for his activism in the past, it adds.

Ms Henry said his forced disappearance comes after warming relations between Sudan and Egypt, adding:

“Diplomatic rapprochement should not come at the cost of human rights.

Silencing critics in this way will not solve Sudan’s problems; Sudan needs to uphold its international obligations and release Boshi immediately.”