"Urgent Appeal: Expedite Immigration Visas for Omar's Family"

To the Consular Section   
U.S. Embassy Djibouti 

Dear Chief of the Immigrant Visa Branch

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned for the safety of Mr. Omar Hassan's wife and children (see picture), who face severe threats due to their association with Mr. Omar, an esteemed advocate for democracy and human rights in Djibouti.Mr. Omar lives as an asylee in the USA and has not seen his wife (Assia) and children Rayan (10), Rania (9), and Hassan (5) since January 2020, as they are currently stranded in Djibouti.

Mr. Omar, a former Djiboutian Army elite officer and commander, received the prestigious 107th International Rosa Parks Prize in July 18th , 2020 see (https://djiboutian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/PHOTO-2021-11-16-01-25-47.jpg)  for his unwavering commitment to defending human and civil rights in Djibouti and the red sea bassin . He is the founder of https://djiboutian.com/# and a founding member of the https://ctddjibouti.org/.

We urgently request the expedited delivery of their immigration visas to the United States in light of the imminent danger they face.

According to Mr. Omar, individuals aligned with the Djiboutian dictatorship, mostly residing in the USA ,Canada ,in Europe and in Djibouti are relentlessly making death threats and conspiring against Mr. Omar's family. These threats and defamation, broadcasted on Facebook Live, explicitly call for retaliation against Mr. Omar's family, including his wife, children, parents, and siblings. Some of these individuals are even advocating for harm or deportation of Omar's family. During their propaganda, these malicious bloggers intentionally paint a false picture of Omar's character, attempting to portray him as a war criminal in order to deceive a group of the Djiboutian population and incite hatred and harm towards Omar's family.

Mr. Omar has substantial evidence, including video footage, to support these claims. 

Omar is widely regarded as a hero by many Djiboutians for his sacrifices in the pursuit of a better life in Djibouti. He was granted asylum in the USA in September 2022.

Our concern is solely for the safety of Mr. Omar's family. We are not involved in politics but are concerned friends seeking their protection and reunification.

Additionally, while not directly involved in Mr. Omar's activism, we are aware of his sacrifices to peacefully advocate for positive change in Djibouti, addressing corruption and nepotism contributing to poverty. Djibouti, as reported by WFP USA https://www.wfpusa.org/countries/djibouti/ , faces severe poverty, with nearly half its population living in extreme poverty. We are also cognizant of developments in Africa, particularly West Africa.

Furthermore, we have taken note of Djibouti's poor reputation, as highlighted in the US Department of State's 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Djibouti. This report stated, "Significant human rights issues included credible reports of arbitrary arrest or detention; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; punishment of family members for offences allegedly committed by an individual; and serious restrictions on free expression and media.".

The US Consular Officer at the US Embassy in Djibouti interviewed Mr. Omar's wife and children on August 15, 2023. We are distressed to learn that their visa application is currently on hold for unknown reasons and is showing temporarily  'refused' status, leaving Omar's wife and children in a precarious situation.

Given the urgency and clear danger to Mr. Omar's family, we respectfully request immediate review and reconsideration of their visa application. The safety and lives of these innocent individuals are at risk, and their separation from Mr. Omar since January 2020 is causing immense distress.

The United States has a longstanding commitment to providing refuge for those facing persecution due to their advocacy for democracy and human rights. Mr. Omar's family's case embodies the principles of compassion and justice.

We implore you to take swift and compassionate action to expedite the immigration visas for Mr. Omar's family. Time is critical, and their safety depends on your intervention.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. We hope you will consider our plea and take the necessary steps ASAP to reunite Mr. Omar's family and ensure their protection.