Coptic Christian Fights Deportation to Egypt, Fearing Torture
"An Egyptian Coptic Christian who was permitted to stay in the United States because of the probable threat of torture back home is now fighting deportation on a murder charge in Egypt. The office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has decided to deport the man, Sameh Khouzam, 38, of Lancaster, Pa., because Egypt’s government has given diplomatic assurances that Mr. Khouzam will not be tortured upon his return."
NEELA BANERJEE in the New York Times.
The ACLU says: “The Egyptian authorities are notorious for their routine use of torture. The U.S. government’s reliance on their word makes a mockery of its treaty obligations under the Torture Convention,” said Amrit Singh, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project Staff Attorney. “It is illegal and immoral to send Mr. Khouzam back to a country where he will likely be tortured.”