Chadian refugee activist Mr. Alfred C. Djasnan arrested by Egyptian police
By: African Refugees Rights Initiative
The beginning of the problem began when Mr. Alfred Djasnan went to the UNHCR office to request a travel document which is a right recognized by the 1951 Geneva Convention and its 1967 protocols for asylum seekers recognized as refugees. .
This request was rejected by the UNHCR, staff say that the office does not issue travel documents for refugees and that any refugee who wishes to leave Egypt or travel must provisionally close their file before obtaining the right to travel, something astonishing and therefore contrary to the Geneva Convention on refugee status!?
You should know that Mr. Alfred Djasnan is the founding president of the African Refugees Rights Initiative created in October 2020 to peacefully claim the rights of African refugees in accordance with the legal standards of the Geneva Convention on Refugees.
Thanks to this initiative bringing together thousands of African refugees, Mr. Alfred and his colleagues denounced the bad practices of the UNHCR office in Egypt, which resembles a mafia and slavery office which only aims to exploit refugees and kept in captivity without having the right at any time to leave Egypt under penalty of threats, such is the case of Mr. Alfred Djasnan.
It is May 15, 2023 at 5 p.m. local time in Cairo, in the city of October 6 in the first district of the city, in Al Mahad street door 350, two plainclothes police officers approached the door of the house where they found Mr. Alfred Djasnan, they knocked on the door saying it was the police.
Alfred demanded the guard's presence before opening the door. So the police brought the guard back and he opened the door.
The two police officers said Mr. Alfred that you must come with us to the police, this is how the kidnapping took place because it must be remembered, the police do not have a warrant authorizing them to come and arrest Mr. Alfred!
It is May 15, 2023 at 5 p.m. local time in Cairo, in the city of October 6 in the first district of the city, in Al Mahad street door 350, two plainclothes police officers approached the door of the house where they found Mr. Alfred Djasnan, they knocked on the door saying it was the police.
Alfred demanded the guard's presence before opening the door. So the police brought the guard back and he opened the door.
The two police officers said Mr. Alfred that you must come with us to the police, this is how the kidnapping took place because it must be remembered, the police do not have a warrant authorizing them to come and arrest Mr. Alfred!
Spending two days in prison without knowing the reason for his arrest, Mr. Alfred found himself before the judge on May 17, 2023.
The judge asked Mr. Alfred what's wrong?
Alfred responded to the judge: "I was at home and two plainclothes police officers came to arrest me! I have been a refugee in this country for a decade."
I judge answered in a calm tone it's okay I understood.
As he left the courtroom, Alfred's lawyer informed him that the judge had requested his immediate release without delay because you do not lock up a refugee who has not broken any law.
According to the police complaint, they claim that Alfred's residence card expired a month ago, while Mr. Alfred Djasnan in question is a refugee in Egypt and his UNHCR refugee card is valid until In 2025, it's paradoxical, isn't it?
The judge asked Mr. Alfred what's wrong?
Alfred responded to the judge: "I was at home and two plainclothes police officers came to arrest me! I have been a refugee in this country for a decade."
I judge answered in a calm tone it's okay I understood.
As he left the courtroom, Alfred's lawyer informed him that the judge had requested his immediate release without delay because you do not lock up a refugee who has not broken any law.
According to the police complaint, they claim that Alfred's residence card expired a month ago, while Mr. Alfred Djasnan in question is a refugee in Egypt and his UNHCR refugee card is valid until In 2025, it's paradoxical, isn't it?
Despite the judge's decision, the police kept Alfred in jail for another 5 days. One of the police officers asked Mr. Alfred, why do you criticize the Chadian regime? Are you rebellious? he goes so far as to claim that Alfred be repatriated to Chad. It is then that Alfred understands that it is a plot organized by the Chadian regime, the police and the UNHCR of Egypt to send him to Chad.
Mr. Alfred replied in a firm tone that he has refugee status and that he benefits from international protection and therefore that he can be repatriated to another country but not to Chad.
From the arrest of Mr. Alfred to his expulsion to the Rwanda he chose, the UNHCR office in Egypt failed to prove its responsibility nor to send a lawyer to defend before the judge or even to visit to Alfred in prison. Mr. Alfred's refugee card and malaria vaccination card were confiscated by Egyptian police.
Mr. Alfred replied in a firm tone that he has refugee status and that he benefits from international protection and therefore that he can be repatriated to another country but not to Chad.
From the arrest of Mr. Alfred to his expulsion to the Rwanda he chose, the UNHCR office in Egypt failed to prove its responsibility nor to send a lawyer to defend before the judge or even to visit to Alfred in prison. Mr. Alfred's refugee card and malaria vaccination card were confiscated by Egyptian police.
Two police officers whose names we reserve the right to give testify to Mr. Alfred that they were wrong to come to his house to arrest him but it was the decision of their leaders.
Surprisingly, the police and the UNHCR office in Egypt arranged to pay for the return ticket for Mr. Alfred's deportation to Rwanda for the dates of May 22, 2023 and May 26, 2023.
Indeed, the UNHCR office in Egypt wanted to get rid of Mr. Alfred Djasnan who had become their bête noire with his initiative for the rights of African refugees which denounces corruption, discrimination and exploitation of African refugees in Egypt.
Surprisingly, the police and the UNHCR office in Egypt arranged to pay for the return ticket for Mr. Alfred's deportation to Rwanda for the dates of May 22, 2023 and May 26, 2023.
Indeed, the UNHCR office in Egypt wanted to get rid of Mr. Alfred Djasnan who had become their bête noire with his initiative for the rights of African refugees which denounces corruption, discrimination and exploitation of African refugees in Egypt.
Sending Alfred to Chad is therefore the right option for the UNHCR in Egypt and the police. But unfortunately for them, pressure from media such as Al Jazeera, middleeasteye.net, mada misr, the citizens' network, human rights organizations (Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch), the Pan-African Brotherhood and committed activists ended up forcing them to change their minds.
The great fear for the UNHCR office, the initiative of Mr. Alfred has gathered all the evidence as well as the handwritten petitions of the refugees to prosecute this office and its partners before the major international courts because these are humanitarian crimes which deserve sanctions.
We will come back for more details if necessary.
The great fear for the UNHCR office, the initiative of Mr. Alfred has gathered all the evidence as well as the handwritten petitions of the refugees to prosecute this office and its partners before the major international courts because these are humanitarian crimes which deserve sanctions.
We will come back for more details if necessary.
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