July 18, 2019

Human Rights Watch criticised on Tuesday the deportation by Kuwait of eight Egyptians to Cairo, describing it as “horrendous.”

“Kuwait has handed over the eight men despite the serious risk of torture and persecution they face in Egypt,” said the organisation in a statement. “The deportation of the men appears to violate Kuwait’s obligations under international law.” 

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at the organisation, said: “It’s horrendous that Kuwait is acting at the behest of abusive Egyptian security agencies and returning dissidents to face torture and persecution.”

On Friday Kuwaiti security forces arrested eight Egyptians allegedly part of a “terrorist cell” and accused them of “belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.”

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that cell members were sentenced to up to 15 years prison by Egyptian courts and that they fled to Kuwait to avoid prosecution by the Egyptian security forces.

Kuwaiti authorities handed them over to Egypt on Sunday in two installments.