Original Source: www.amnesty.org
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi must turn back the new asylum law recently approved by Egypt’s parliament. This legislation threatens to erode the rights of refugees amidst a crackdown on individuals seeking safety within Egypt. Amnesty International expressed deep concern regarding how the law lacks essential protections for asylum seekers and transfers registration authority from the UN Refugee Agency to the Egyptian government.
The new law, which emerged in November 2024, complicates the asylum-seeking process and does not safeguard against unlawful returns of refugees. Reports of mass arrests and forced deportations of Sudanese refugees seeking refuge in Egypt further highlight the urgency of this situation. The law also fails to prohibit the dangerous practice known as refoulement, which puts vulnerable individuals at risk of returning to perilous conditions.
Mahmoud Shalaby, an Amnesty International researcher, insists that the Egyptian government must not ignore its international human rights obligations with this legislation. Instead, the law should be reconsidered in consultation with the refugee community and human rights organizations. In addition, the EU should play a pivotal role in pressing for amendments that uphold human rights standards in Egypt’s migration policies.
Historically, the UNHCR has been the guiding force for refugee affairs in Egypt since 1954, but the government now claims inflated numbers of refugees, merging categories of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. The newly passed asylum law, obscurely developed without the involvement of key stakeholders, will operate under a Permanent Committee with members exclusively selected from government ministries.
While the law recognizes the definition of a refugee per the 1951 Refugee Convention, it introduces problematic provisions allowing the detention of asylum seekers solely on migration-related grounds. The arbitrary requirement for asylum seekers to apply within just 45 days of arrival fails to consider many individual circumstances and threatens to deny legitimate claims based on urgent personal situations.
The exclusion criteria established by the new law are excessively broad and risk denying asylum to individuals based on vague accusations of serious crimes. Most concerning is the absence of exemptions for political crimes, placing those who are persecuted for exercising their freedoms at an even greater risk of danger and exclusion.
Procedural safeguards across the asylum process stand mostly absent, leaving applicants vulnerable to arbitrary treatment. This means refugees have no guaranteed legal assistance or fair appeal processes, stripping them of fundamental rights. Such omissions could pave the way for increased abuse and mistreatment of refugees within Egypt’s borders.
Since unrest began in Sudan in April 2023, the refugee crisis has sharply ascended, prompting Egypt to impose a visa requirement on Sudanese nationals. Consequently, many refugees have no choice but to cross borders irregularly. Reports indicate thousands of Sudanese refugees faced illegal deportation from Egypt, highlighting a grim reality exacerbated by governmental actions in collaboration with the EU to tighten migration control.
In early 2024, the EU fortified its partnership with Egypt, adding millions to border control efforts, which do not align with claimed human rights protections. Past agreements aimed at curbing irregular migration have lacked effectiveness, often disregarding the very rights they profess to protect. So the future for refugees seeking safety in Egypt appears perilous at best and requires immediate redress to uphold dignity and rights.
Since April 2023, the conflict in Sudan has driven over a million refugees into Egypt, where escalating tensions and governmental restrictions have complicated their plight. The legislative changes regarding asylum have emerged during a time marked by heightened police activity against refugees, particularly Sudanese nationals. The EU’s investment in strengthening Egypt’s border control reveals a concerning alignment with problematic asylum policies that threaten to further diminish the safety and rights of refugees in the region.
In summary, President al-Sisi faces critical decisions regarding the new asylum law that threatens the rights of refugees seeking safety in Egypt. Amnesty International urges consultations with affected parties to rectify flaws in the legislation. The EU must also incorporate robust human rights measures in its migration collaboration with Egypt, ensuring humanitarian principles are not compromised. All actions must prioritize and protect the dignity of those fleeing from conflict and danger.
