South Korean authorities has arrested Mr Ahmed El-Muqaddam an Egyptian citizen who is known for his opposition to the Egyptian regime. Mr El-Muqaddam escaped Egypt in 2014 fearing prosecution and ended up in South Korea applying for political asylum in the country. In a photograph posted on the internet confirmed that the South Korean police arrested and detained Mr El-Muqaddam for two weeks to be deported back to Egypt .
AFD International is deeply concerned about this arrest, Egypt’s systematic practice of torture, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial killings which has been vindicated by number of UN and many reports of human rights organisations reports.. We call on the South Korean authorities to release Mr Ahmed El-Muqaddam on the ground that he may be subjected to all kinds of torture and possibly murder. We also, hold the South Korean authorities responsible for the safety of Mr El-Muqaddam, and call upon them to abide by Article 3 of The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) which South Korea has ratified.
And , which states in its first paragraph that “no State Party shall expel, return or extradite a person to another State if there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. ”
We appeal to the South Korean authorities to act according to the letters and spirit of the Human Rights conventions and declarations.
AFD International
Asia & The Pacific
3rd August 2018