CAIRO: Egyptian authorities arrested a Darfuri refugee in Egypt and may forcibly return him to Sudan, apparently for his activism in support of refugees and migrants in Egypt. If returned, he would be in danger of being tortured, or otherwise ill-treated, leading international human rights organization Amnesty International said on Friday evening. On May 6, security forces arrested refugee rights defender Abdel Moneim Adam Suleiman, 36, in the Mogamma administrative complex, in central Cairo's Tahrir Square. Ministry of interior officials had asked him to go there to retrieve his passport after they had taken it from him during a previous arrest in February. Adam Suleiman is currently being held in al-Qanater Prison, north of Cairo, although it is unclear on what legal grounds, the London-based group said. His lawyer has said his client has not been charged, but that he is being held because he considered a threat to “national security.” His lawyer has lodged an appeal against the ministry of interior's decision to deport him, before an administrative court, which is expected to hear the appeal next week. “Amnesty International fears Abdel Moneim Adam Suleiman could be forcibly returned to Sudan at any time. Refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants from Sub-Saharan countries, such as Sudan and Eritrea, have previously been deported back to their counties without due process and despite ongoing legal challenges to their deportation,” the statement read. “Abdel Moneim Adam Suleiman has reportedly been granted refugee status by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.” He is also the director of the Sudan Center for Contemporary Studies and Development, which documents abuses against refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Egypt. He was detained briefly by the security forces in January and February 2012. On both occasions security forces questioned him about his activities in Egypt. Following his arrest in February he was reportedly told that he was no longer welcome in the country.
