U.N. human rights chief lashes out at Egypt for deportations of Eritrean asylum seekers

The large-scale deportation of Eritrean asylum-seekers from Egypt has “alarmed” the U.N. human rights chief, prompting her to call on Cairo to put an end to forced returns, the U.N. News Service reported Thursday.

“Egypt should respect its international obligations not to send home anyone who could face torture or other serious forms of ill treatment, as may well be the case with those who have apparently been deported in recent days,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said in a statement.

Some 700 Eritreans have been deported in recent days, according to reports.

According to the article, “Egypt has seen a surge of Eritreans entering the country illegally in recent months by land from Sudan or directly from Eritrea via the Red Sea.”

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