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Anfet February 26 2026
The Eritrean community in Cairo stands at a historic and moral crossroads. The mass arrests, alleged torture, sexual violence, and deportation risks facing Eritrean refugees in Egypt since January 2026 have reached a level that no conscience can ignore. According to Human Rights Concern–Eritrea (HRCE), more than 3,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers may currently be detained, including individuals who were already registered with UNHCR at the time of arrest. HRCE has documented beatings, burns inflicted with hot water and corrosive substances, extortion, denial of medical treatment, sexual violence, and transfers of detainees to the Eritrean Embassy for forced documentation. Two young children have reportedly died following the arrest of their mother, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Independent reporting by Martin Plaut confirms the same alarming pattern: mass arrests, alleged torture, and the threat of deportation to Eritrea—where returnees face imprisonment, torture, and indefinite conscription.
These developments constitute grave violations of international refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning any person to a country where they face persecution, torture, or inhumane treatment.
A Call to Legal Eritrean Residents in Cairo
You—students, workers, families, long-term residents—are the most credible and morally positioned voices to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Your legal status gives you the safety and legitimacy to advocate publicly and collectively.
Your voices matter. Your silence will be remembered.
A Call to All Eritrean Political and Civic Organizations in Cairo
Every Eritrean political party, civic association, youth group, women’s organization, and community institution with a presence in Cairo has a responsibility to act. The suffering of Eritrean refugees is not separate from our political mission—it is the human consequence of the very repression we oppose.
We call on all organizations to:
Issue a joint public appeal to the Government of Egypt.
Demand the immediate release of all Eritrean detainees to UNHCR guardianship.
Insist that no Eritrean refugee be returned to Eritrea against their will.
Request full access for UNHCR and humanitarian organizations to detention centers.
Document abuses and provide testimonies to international human rights bodies.
This is not a political gesture. It is a moral obligation.
Appeal to the Government of Egypt
We express gratitude to the Government of Egypt for decades of hosting Eritrean refugees and for its longstanding cooperation with UNHCR. Egypt has provided safety to thousands fleeing war, dictatorship, and persecution. This generosity is acknowledged and respected.
But today, we must speak with honesty and urgency.
The mass arrests, alleged torture, sexual violence, extortion, denial of medical care, and deportation risks documented by HRCE and independent journalists represent a profound humanitarian crisis.
The reported deaths of two Eritrean children following the arrest of their mother is a tragedy that demands immediate action.
We appeal to the Government of Egypt to:
Release all Eritrean detainees into UNHCR protection.
Allow safe passage to third countries for those already approved for resettlement.
End all transfers of detainees to the Eritrean Embassy, which places them at direct risk.
Ensure that no Eritrean refugee is deported to Eritrea, in accordance with international law.
Egypt’s leadership in the region is strengthened—not weakened—by upholding humanitarian principles.
A Moment for Unity and Moral Leadership
The Eritrean community in Cairo must rise above political divisions. Refugees are not statistics; they are our brothers, sisters, and children. Their suffering is our shared responsibility.
Let this moment be remembered as the time when Eritreans in Cairo—legal residents, political organizations, civic groups, and community leaders—stood together to defend the dignity and lives of their people.
Contact for Documentation and Human Rights Reporting
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)
+44 (0)7958 005 637
eritrea.facts@gmail.com
www.hrc-eritrea.org
