it seems that we have 10 days to act before the so-called war on terror claims another victim in a way absolutely at odds with the america i believe in...egyptian national sameh khouzam is in imminent danger of being forcibly returned to egypt...a court order preventing this would have expired yesterday on 7 june was extended 10 days...
not only does amnesty international fear that he would be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment if returned but sameh is a member of the local group in york pennsylvania...he is a colleague, beloved by his local mates i york...so who is sameh khouzam really???
sameh khouzam is a christian from egypt who fled the country and asked the u.s. government to protect him from torture. ..the highest federal court in new york forbid his deportation to egypt based on the threats that he faced...
now, three years later, bush administration officials are planning to deport him to egypt in direct violation of the 2nd circuit's order and in violation of the convention against torture...they've procured what are called "diplomatic assurances" from the egyptian government that they won't torture him...
this would be funny if it weren't so shocking...egypt's human rights record is abominable...the u.s. state department has said that egypt regularly tortures its prisoners...amnesty international and human rights watch agree...
the use of these so-called "diplomatic assurances" is especially troubling when you're talking about egypt...every international body or court that's looked at this diplomatic assurances practice has condemned it as a violation of international law (cat, iccpr, etc)...it's clear that egypt cannot be trusted...nor, as it seems, can the u.s. be trusted to observe the most basic human rights standard - the absolute prohibition on returning someone to torture...
so i need you to join us and ACT NOW as 10 days from now is simply too late - sameh will be in the hands of egyptian officials and experience water boarding rather than water skiing...
please send the link to this blog to your network list for action...
a sample letter that you can copy, edit, and then email and fax is located right here...
if you require more information first - and we encourage and respect that - you can surf over here...
and then send your letters here - ASAP:
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
202-647-4000
The Honorable Michael Chertoff, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
The Honorable Michael Chertoff
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Operator Number: 202-282-8000
Comment Line: 202-282-8495
The Honorable Alberto R. Gonzalez, Attorney General, Department of Justice
The Honorable Alberto Gonzales
Office of the Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
202-353-1555
additional fax numbers and email addresses for senators, representatives and governors are located here...
emme see what you got in you okay???
peace out <3
1 comment:
sameh is a real person with friends and family here in the united states...he also cares deeply for others...here is a note from an american friend of his...
I have never in my life felt more inspired by the power of Amnesty International. It feels so different when the Urgent Action is about someone who has lived in your home, eaten at your table, laughed at your stupid jokes and cried over lost years while he was in prison. His mother has been a speaker at several of our Mid Atlantic Regional Conferences. She is an amazing woman.
Please, keep shining the light on this case. Sameh is a gentle, gentle soul and deserves all of our love and support. Just yesterday, when I went to see him in prison, he was giving me the names of other men in immigration detention and asking me to help find visitors for them. He faces certain death if he's deported and he's still taking care of everyone else. This is what AI is all about. I am in awe of all of you. I don't have the words to tell you what it means to me that you are all with me in this fight to save Sameh's life.
Sameh is amazed by all the support he's been getting from AI members around the world. He and his Mom, Georgette, are both members of our local group. They had no idea how powerful AI activists can be.
Much love and appreciation,
..
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