We are Eritrean organizations, concerned individuals, and international organizations that are distressed about the ongoing harassment, indiscriminate arrest, extortion, and detention of Eritreans by police in Egypt.

We remain deeply concerned about the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt,” Surbana organization doctors said. “Practices of arbitrary arrest and deportations continue, with refugee communities being targeted in their homes, workplaces, and even in refugee-led service centres.”

Currently, refugees, including Eritrean women and men, are arbitrarily arrested, abused, and harmed in detention centers. The roundups and arrests are of those asylum seekers and refugees with valid UNHCR registration cards.

The Surbana organization (a nonprofit organization based in the United States of America) has been documenting detainees' information with valid UNHCR cards, including EGAMA (legal resident permit cards).

We also documented many videos of the roundups in many corners of the city. The police don’t wear uniforms, and this is becoming such a concerning issue.

This has posed a serious problem for many refugees. We have also received reports of rape and harm in the detection centers.

The indiscriminate harassment and arrest of Eritreans in Egypt are taking place in the following areas:

Egypt!:

1. Boulaq Ad Dakrour (قسم شرطة بولاق الدكرور)

2- Ajuza قسم العجوزة)

3-Kerdasa (قسم كرداسة)

4-Agouza Police Department (قسم شرطة العجوزة)

5- Giza Police Department (قسم شرطة الجيزة)!

6-Talebeya Police Station (قسم شرطة الطالبية)

7-Dokki Police Station (قسم شرطة الدقي)

8- El Omraneya Police Station 

(قسم شرطة العمرانية)

The Surbana organization and its partnering organizations noted that Egypt’s new asylum law, adopted on 16 December 2024, raised immediate concerns due to provisions that could undermine the rights and protections of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Those concerns intensified in October 2025 amid a surge in arrests and deportations — particularly of Eritrean and Sudanese nationals — often based solely on alleged residence permit violations. Deportations were reportedly carried out without individualized assessments to determine the risk of refoulement.

We are also deeply concerned that the refugees and asylum seekers are forced to pay over 5000 Egyptian currency held by the police for their release with no guarantee that they will not be detained and required to pay again. As a result, many Eritreans have been arrested multiple times. Each time, they are forced to pay for their release. Those who cannot pay are transferred to the detention center, and some of them end up deported without proper process.

In addition to the violence inflicted on Eritreans at the time of arrest, we also have reports that while in detention, Eritreans, both men and women, have suffered sexual violence. At the same time, Eritreans have become prey to thieves who rob them by pretending to be members of the police force or the security force.

Eritreans are seeking safety and refuge in Egypt; they are fleeing their home country to escape human rights abuses and violations, including arbitrary detention, restrictions on rights of freedom of expression, association, religion, and belief, and forced labor. However, recent events mean that Eritreans are not safe in Egypt. As a signatory of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 protocol and the 1969 AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, Egypt has a responsibility to ensure the safety of Eritreans who are seeking protection from abuse inflicted by their own country.  `.

Therefore, we ask the Egyptian government, in coordination with UHCR, to urgently uphold its obligations and

a) Renew all refugee status documentation.

b) Release all detained Eritreans, including Eritrean refugees, who are not held for legally justified reasons.
c) Hold accountable those officials who have engaged in the harassment and arbitrary detention of Eritreans.
d) Ensure that Eritreans in Egypt enjoy safety and security as per international standards.

Yours sincerely,

George Ghebreslassie, founder and director of Surbana Medias and Community Services, Inc.