Urgent Action Needed for Darfuri Disappeared in Cairo

Sudanese security forces are not known for their graciousness, nor do they feel their activities need to be restricted by their own borders. Darfuri refugees and activists have been cornered, threatened, and even attacked by Sudanese government thugs in cities across Africa, and even in Europe, and are watched closely in the United States. The plight of those who've fled their homes in Sudan is particularly troubling, however, in neighboring countries such as Egypt, whose human rights record also leaves much to be desired.

The brother of a prominent Darfuri community leader in the U.S. is the latest victim of this cruel combination: Faisal Haroun, who advised his fellow Darfuris to unite and demand recognition of their rights. He fled government harassment in Sudan only to confront similar abuse in Cairo, first from the Sudanese embassy and then the Egyptian authorities themselves, no doubt acting in collusion. Faisal was arrested on January 7 along with his older brother; the brother was released, but Faisal has not been heard from since.

His sister, Fatima, is desperately trying to locate him. She wrote, "I was promised that I would be able to get in touch with him, but finally was informed that the Egyptian authorities now are denying that Faisal is even in jail. This scares and terrifies me very much since it has been more than two months and no one is able to locate my brother. My other brother was tortured the entire time he was detained. Faisal also has a stomach ulcer and requires special diet, which I am sure will not be provided, if he has been offered any food at all."

Faisal's story is far from unique. Each missing individual, just like each individual killed during Sudan's multiple conflicts, is someone's loved one — a brother, sister, mother, father, a family being further torn apart by the dirty deeds of the nasty and power-hungry. Just imagine the anguish you would feel, if your brother disappeared tomorrow.

Urgent action is needed. Click here to send a simple message to the Egyptian Minister of the Interior, the Egyptian Minister of Justice, and the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, and ask them to urge Egyptian authorities to stop mistreating Faisal.

After the jump, and courtesy of Fatima, are additional ways you can help, including phone numbers and physical addresses of authorities in Egypt that deserve to hear from us.

His lawyers with the Egyptian Foundation for Refugees Rights have asked people interested in helping to urge the Egyptian authorities to:

·         Provide access to legal counsel and

·         Release Mr. Faisal Mohamed Haroun from detention; and

·         Cease harassing, through arrest and detention, other detained refugees.

You can send letters and contact:

·         Minister of the Interior, General Habib Ibrahim Habib El Adly, Ministry of the Interior, El-Sheikh Rihan Street, Bab al-Louk, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: moi1@idsc.gov.eg, Fax: +202 579 2031 / 794 5529

·         Minister of Justice, Mr. Mamdoh Mohie E-din Marie, Ministry of Justice, Magles El Saeb Street, Wezaret Al Adl, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: mojeb@idsc.gov.eg, Fax: +202 795 8103

·         Public Prosecutor, Counsellor Maher Abd al-Wahid, Dar al-Qadha al-Ali, Ramses Street, Cairo, Egypt, Fax: +202 577 4716

·         H.E. Ambassador Hisham Badr, Permanent Mission to the UN of Egypt in Geneva 49, Av. BLANC 2eme Etage, 1202 GENEVE, Switzerland, Fax: local: (022) 738.4415; international: +41.22.738.4415

·         National Council For Human Rights, Email: nchr@nchr.org.eg,  insan@nchr.org.eg

Photo credit: Fatima Haroun