The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented a troubling escalation in security campaigns targeting Syrian and Sudanese refugees across several Egyptian governorates, resulting in the arrest, detention, and deportation of a number of individuals—despite many possessing valid legal documents, including UNHCR asylum cards, residency permits, or official appointments with relevant authorities to renew their documentation.
According to consistent testimonies gathered by CFJ, these campaigns have involved stopping refugees in streets, workplaces, residential areas, and public transportation, with some detainees held for varying periods before being released or forcibly deported. CFJ emphasized that these actions constitute arbitrary measures lacking due legal process.
CFJ also documented instances in which refugees were coerced into signing so‑called “voluntary return” forms, under conditions of detention and psychological pressure—raising serious concerns that such actions amount to disguised forced removal, in violation of the international legal principle of non‑refoulement, which strictly prohibits returning individuals to places where their lives or freedoms may be at risk.
The committee warned that these practices represent an unprecedented escalation in the treatment of refugees in Egypt and pose significant threats to their safety, particularly given the severe humanitarian and security crises in their countries of origin. Forced returns under such conditions may expose refugees to grave harm, including persecution, violence, and deprivation of basic rights.
CFJ called for an immediate halt to all arrest and deportation campaigns targeting refugees, urging authorities to respect their legal status and uphold the prohibition on forced return. The committee stressed the need to guarantee refugees’ fundamental rights, including access to legal protection, fair procedures, and communication with relevant authorities and organizations responsible for refugee affairs.
