Egyptian peaceful protester risks extradition from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, where he faces torture
Name(s):
Ahmed Fathi Kamal Kamel
Status:
In detention (pending extradition request)
Year of birth:
1991
Profession:
Account Manager
Nationality:
Egyptian
Date of arrest:
Ahmed Kamel is an Egyptian national who participated in the Arab Spring protests in Egypt in 2011 and 2014. During the protests, he was shot on two separate occasions, leaving him with long-term health complications, including embedded shrapnel that remains in his body. Following the 2014 demonstrations, he was subjected to arrest, detention, and torture at the hands of the Egyptian authorities. After being released on bail, he managed to flee to Saudi Arabia, where he has resided ever since. In 2021, he was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison, equivalent to a life sentence, on charges related to his involvement in the protests. On November 13, 2024, he was apprehended in Saudi Arabia at Egypt's request. Currently detained in Jeddah, he risks imminent extradition to Egypt, where he faces torture, arbitrary detention and other human rights abuses.
Ahmed Kamel is an Egyptian national who participated in the Arab Spring protests in Egypt in 2011 and 2014. During the protests, he was shot on two separate occasions, leaving him with long-term health complications, including embedded shrapnel that remains in his body. Following the 2014 demonstrations, he was subjected to arrest, detention, and torture at the hands of Egyptian authorities. After being released on bail, he managed to flee to Saudi Arabia, where he has resided ever since. His wife and their two young children, aged 2 years and 10 months, are American nationals and have been residing in the U.S., frequently visiting Kamel in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, he was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison, equivalent to a life sentence, on charges related to his involvement in the protests.
In October 2022, Kamel was arrested in Saudi Arabia for the first time following an initial extradition request by Egypt. He was detained at the Southern Jeddah police station for three days, during which time he was not shown any official documentation. After being asked if he wished to be extradited to Egypt or remain in Saudi Arabia, Kamel was released and allowed to stay in the country without further issues.
On November 12, 2024, Kamel received a call from a police station, summoning him to the station the following day. On November 13, 2024, he arrived at the Southern Jeddah police station, where he sought answers from seven or eight different officers regarding the reason for his summons. However, each officer claimed to have no information about his case. After some time, they informed him that he was free to leave and assured him that they would contact him if any new information arose.
Later that same day, the police station called him again, requesting his return. He was then put under arrest as part of extradition proceedings requested by Egypt. Kamel is currently detained in Jeddah and risks imminent extradition to Egypt, where he faces torture, arbitrary detention and other human rights violations.
On November 28, 2024, MENA Rights Group filed an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly, the Special Rapporteur on torture, and the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, requesting them to intervene on Kamel’s case by urging the Saudi authorities not to extradite him and to release him from detention.
On December 2, 2024, Kamel’s family learned that he had been transferred to al-Shumaisi detention center in Jeddah, an immigration administrative detention center under the command of the Saudi Immigration Police. On the same day, in the evening, Kamel was transferred back to Southern Jeddah police station.
On December 3, 2024, Kamel’s wife received a call from him, telling her that the Saudi authorities had threatened to proceed with his extradition before deporting her and their two young children.
| Name(s): |
Ahmed Fathi Kamal Kamel
|
| Status: |
In detention (pending extradition request)
|
| Year of birth: |
1991
|
| Profession: |
Account Manager
|
| Nationality: |
Egyptian
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
Ahmed Kamel is an Egyptian national who participated in the Arab Spring protests in Egypt in 2011 and 2014. During the protests, he was shot on two separate occasions, leaving him with long-term health complications, including embedded shrapnel that remains in his body. Following the 2014 demonstrations, he was subjected to arrest, detention, and torture at the hands of Egyptian authorities. After being released on bail, he managed to flee to Saudi Arabia, where he has resided ever since. His wife and their two young children, aged 2 years and 10 months, are American nationals and have been residing in the U.S., frequently visiting Kamel in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, he was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison, equivalent to a life sentence, on charges related to his involvement in the protests.
In October 2022, Kamel was arrested in Saudi Arabia for the first time following an initial extradition request by Egypt. He was detained at the Southern Jeddah police station for three days, during which time he was not shown any official documentation. After being asked if he wished to be extradited to Egypt or remain in Saudi Arabia, Kamel was released and allowed to stay in the country without further issues.
On November 12, 2024, Kamel received a call from a police station, summoning him to the station the following day. On November 13, 2024, he arrived at the Southern Jeddah police station, where he sought answers from seven or eight different officers regarding the reason for his summons. However, each officer claimed to have no information about his case. After some time, they informed him that he was free to leave and assured him that they would contact him if any new information arose.
Later that same day, the police station called him again, requesting his return. He was then put under arrest as part of extradition proceedings requested by Egypt. Kamel is currently detained in Jeddah and risks imminent extradition to Egypt, where he faces torture, arbitrary detention and other human rights violations.
On November 28, 2024, MENA Rights Group filed an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly, the Special Rapporteur on torture, and the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, requesting them to intervene on Kamel’s case by urging the Saudi authorities not to extradite him and to release him from detention.
On December 2, 2024, Kamel’s family learned that he had been transferred to al-Shumaisi detention center in Jeddah, an immigration administrative detention center under the command of the Saudi Immigration Police. On the same day, in the evening, Kamel was transferred back to Southern Jeddah police station.
On December 3, 2024, Kamel’s wife received a call from him, telling her that the Saudi authorities had threatened to proceed with his extradition before deporting her and their two young children.