A Turkish doctor of Egyptian origin faces extradition from Morocco to Egypt
Name(s):
Abdelbaset Elemam (also known as Abdelbaset Abdallah Mohamed al-Imam)
Status:
In detention (pending extradition request)
Year of birth:
1962
Profession:
Professor of Medicine
Nationality:
Turkish and Egyptian
Date of arrest:
Abdelbaset Elemam is a Turkish national of Egyptian origin who was a Professor of Medicine at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo before seeking exile in Turkey. In 2013, he participated with his son in the protests at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square against the government in place. His son was shot and killed by security forces during the protests. Elemam continued his political activism, including against President al-Sisi, and was forced into exile because of the increasing crackdown on dissidents by Egyptian authorities. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in abstentia on December 12, 2017 on terrorism charges. On November 3, 2024, while traveling to Morocco for tourism, Elemam was arrested at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca and is currently being detained pending extradition.
Abdelbaset Elemam is a Turkish national of Egyptian origin who was a Professor of Medicine in the Urology Department at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Elemam opposed the July 3, 2013 coup led by the Egyptian military against President Mohamed Morsi. Elemam participated in the heavily repressed August 2013 protests at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in Cairo alongside thousands of Egyptians. He was accompanied by his son, aged 18 years old at the time, who was shot and killed by security forces on August 14, 2013. After the murder of his son, he openly continued to support his anti-government stance against President al-Sisi.
In 2016, security forces raided and searched his home for any information about Elemam and his relatives’ whereabouts. Elemam took heed of the risk of arrest and was forced to leave the country immediately. He left Egypt legally through Cairo Airport, with no legal issues or pending cases against him, and traveled to Tanzania. His family remained in Egypt but lived in hiding for at least a year. Elemam settled in Turkey in 2018 and obtained Turkish citizenship in 2020.
On December 12, 2017, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in abstentia on vague terrorism charges, namely ‘taking leadership of a group created in violation of the provisions of the law’ and ‘using armed actions as a means to take over the reins of government by force’.
On November 3, 2024, while traveling to Morocco for tourism with his valid Turkish passport, Elemam was arrested at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. On the day of his arrest, he was only allowed to contact his relatives on two very brief occasions to inform them that the Moroccan authorities were holding him on the basis of an extradition request issued by Egypt.
Elemam is currently being detained in Tiflet 2 prison awaiting a decision from the Court of Cassation regarding Egypt's extradition request.
An extradition of Elemam would constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement enshrined under article 3 of the Convention against Torture, to which Morocco is a party.
| Name(s): |
Abdelbaset Elemam (also known as Abdelbaset Abdallah Mohamed al-Imam)
|
| Status: |
In detention (pending extradition request)
|
| Year of birth: |
1962
|
| Profession: |
Professor of Medicine
|
| Nationality: |
Turkish and Egyptian
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
Abdelbaset Elemam is a Turkish national of Egyptian origin who was a Professor of Medicine in the Urology Department at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Elemam opposed the July 3, 2013 coup led by the Egyptian military against President Mohamed Morsi. Elemam participated in the heavily repressed August 2013 protests at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in Cairo alongside thousands of Egyptians. He was accompanied by his son, aged 18 years old at the time, who was shot and killed by security forces on August 14, 2013. After the murder of his son, he openly continued to support his anti-government stance against President al-Sisi.
In 2016, security forces raided and searched his home for any information about Elemam and his relatives’ whereabouts. Elemam took heed of the risk of arrest and was forced to leave the country immediately. He left Egypt legally through Cairo Airport, with no legal issues or pending cases against him, and traveled to Tanzania. His family remained in Egypt but lived in hiding for at least a year. Elemam settled in Turkey in 2018 and obtained Turkish citizenship in 2020.
On December 12, 2017, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in abstentia on vague terrorism charges, namely ‘taking leadership of a group created in violation of the provisions of the law’ and ‘using armed actions as a means to take over the reins of government by force’.
On November 3, 2024, while traveling to Morocco for tourism with his valid Turkish passport, Elemam was arrested at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. On the day of his arrest, he was only allowed to contact his relatives on two very brief occasions to inform them that the Moroccan authorities were holding him on the basis of an extradition request issued by Egypt.
Elemam is currently being detained in Tiflet 2 prison awaiting a decision from the Court of Cassation regarding Egypt's extradition request.
An extradition of Elemam would constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement enshrined under article 3 of the Convention against Torture, to which Morocco is a party.