Demand Safe Return of Rebhy Abdel-Malak
BACKGROUND
In December 2009, ICE agents beat and forced Rebhy Abdel-Malak to sign away his rights and attempted to deport him on a flight to Egypt. The captain of the airplane refused to take him, fearing Mr. Abdel-Malak would die en route. Instead of taking Mr. Abdel-Malak to the hospital for medical attention, ICE agents took him back to a remote county jail in Alabama; ICE only provided medical care to Abdel-Malak days later.
After immigrant rights advocates exposed the ICE abuse against Mr. Abdel-Malak, DHS issued a temporary stay of deportation while the U.S. Attorney's Office investigated the ICE abuse. ICE then transferred him from Alabama to the Atlanta federal detention facility.
In February, ICE again attempted to deport Abdel-Malak, disobeying the stay of deportation. But the quick response from immigrant rights advocates prevented them from deporting him. ICE was thwarted from circumventing the stay of deportation and on-going the investigation. ICE retaliated by putting Abdel-Malak in solitary confinement and further restricted his contact with his family and advocates.
The U.S. Attorney's Office had set a July 6 date for the hearing on the ICE abuse. Then at midnight, on Monday, June 29, 2009, ICE agents took Mr. Abdel-Malak from his cell and put him on lockdown and, under cover of night, transferred him from Atlanta to New York.
ICE agents threatened Abdel-Malak with drugging him if he resisted or attempted to get help to stop his deportation. ICE agents continually photographed Abdel-Malak while waiting for the flight to Egypt, to document that he was not beaten.
ICE accompanied Abdel-Malak on the plane from New York to Cairo, Egypt. After landing on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. local time, ICE turned him over to Egyptian security police.
His family and supporters fear for his safety and life.
DEMAND ICE BRING BACK ABDEL-MALAK SAFELY FROM EGYPT!
Please join us in demanding that the DHS brings back Mr. Abdel-Malak safely from Egypt and continue its investigate into the ICE abuses, and prosecute responsible ICE agents! Mr. Abdel-Malak is the key witness in the investigation and must be safely returned and reunited with his family.
We the undersigned, demand the immediate and safe return of Mr. Rebhy Abdel-Malak (A# 74-711-265), who was unlawfully deported to Egypt by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and officials on Monday, June 29, 2009.On Monday, June 29, 2009, at 10:00 p.m. EST:
* ICE forcibly deported Rebhy Abdel-Malak to Cairo, Egypt, to avoid a hearing on charges that ICE agents severely beat Abdel-Malak into signing away his rights. ICE disobeyed the stay of deportation for Abdel-Malak and ICE's actions constitute a cover up of their abuse.
* Upon arrival the next morning, ICE turned Mr. Abdel-Malak over to Egyptian security police, who immediately pounced on him, dragging him away pulling on his hair.
We demand that:
* DHS ICE ensure the safe return of Rebhy Abdel-Malak from Egypt (A# 74-711-265).
* DHS must fully investigate and prosecute ICE agents and officials responsible for beating and forcing Rebhy Abdel-Malak to sign away his rights, which ICE used in the attempted forced deportation of him last December. This deportation was again attempted in February 2009. And then, on June 29, 2009, disobeying a stay of deportation and under cover of night, ICE agents coerced Mr. Abdel-Malak to board a plane to Egypt. Prosecute and hold accountable all DHS and ICE officials responsible.
* ICE reunites Mr. Abdel-Malak with his family and protect and uphold his civil rights.
signersigner