Cairo, Egypt
Kathy Tomlinson, CTV News
He’s a Christian from Egypt, who came to Canada in 2002 seeking asylum. He made a refugee claim, alleging he was persecuted in his home country, for promoting Christianity in his bookstore.
The Immigration and Refugee Board didn’t believe he was telling the truth. Neither did the federal court. In September, after he exhausted all appeals, Canada deported him back to Egypt — a country where Christians make up 10 per cent of the predominantly Muslim population.
CTV News has now obtained photographs and videotape, allegedly of the same man, which show fresh injuries on his back. They appear to be burns and welts, which he claims were inflicted by Egyptian authorities. He alleges that, since he was sent back, two security officers from Egypt’s State Security Investigations (SSI) have detained, interrogated and threatened him several times. He also claims he was shocked with electricity, doused with water and beaten.
If this unsubstantiated story were true, why doesn’t this Egyptian citizen move to another city in his own country. If that doesn’t work out for him, surely there are other countries in his nearby region where he can travel. What exactly is his attraction to Canada that this foreigner takes great pains (pun intended) to attract international attention for his desire to return to here as a failed/deported refugee?
[...]
Audio Tape: I feel very afraid. Very afraid. Save me please. They tortured me. They tortured me a lot all over my back,” the man on the tape said. “They told me, we decorated your back like your Jesus. All my body was shaking. I could not control myself.”
“They were laughing. They were laughing. Let your Jesus come to save you.” The man broke down in tears. “Please, I beg you, I beg you save me, save me. Save my life.”
This unknown tape sounds all rather melodramatic. Will our ‘now feeling guilty’ and gullible Canadian immigration authorities fall for his game? Of course, they will.
[...]
The man’s supporters want to get him out of Egypt as soon as possible, with or without Ottawa’s help. Desloges hopes he can get back to Canada and make another refugee claim, this time with evidence.
Try Britain…it’s closer to Egypt.
Read the entire sob story here, if you must.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/
20061214/whistleblower_torture_061220/20061220/
