Lawyers Report Abuse of Two Men Deported to Equatorial Guinea
Witnesses and human rights lawyers said two men were abused. The Trump administration had deported them to Equatorial Guinea.
The men were bound and had bags placed over their heads. They were beaten and pushed down a stairway while other deportees watched.
The men were then taken to a prison. Lawyers named them as Ahmed Soliman and Samson Birhane.
One man is from Egypt and the other from Eritrea. Police arrested them on September 11 after a dispute.
Lawyers say the arrests may have been retaliation. They link it to protests over detention conditions and police violence.
About 30 US detainees remain at Hotel Bamy in Equatorial Guinea. Rights groups warn about poor conditions and violence there.
Detainees also faced attempts to take their phones. More than 40 people have been deported under this program.
It runs through a $7.5 million deal between the two countries. Lawyers say 12 deportees were sent back despite usual protections.
Key Terms 3
- Equatorial Guinea A small country in Central Africa on the Atlantic coast.
- Hotel Bamy A hotel in Equatorial Guinea used to hold deportees.
- $7.5 million deal A payment agreement between the United States and Equatorial Guinea for the deportation program.