Doctor in Morocco given life sentence in Egypt facing deportation
A doctor facing a life sentence for political activity in Egypt was detained upon arrival in Morocco and is set to be deported, according to Middle East Eye and agencies.
Dr Abdelbaset Abdallah Mohamed al-Imam, a 62-year old dual national of Turkey and Egypt, was detained and interrogated by Moroccan security after landing in Casablanca airport on November 3rd, his family told Middle East Eye.
After receiving an initial message from him reading “pray for me”, Imam’s family lost contact with him for 14 hours. They then received a minute-long call from him telling them that he was being moved to a Casablanca police station to await a court hearing regarding his deportation.
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Imam fled Egypt back in 2016, fear arrest for his social media activity concerning his son’s death in the 2013 massacre at the Rabaa Square. The events saw the killing of scores of Egyptians who were protesting against a military coup which had removed elected president Mohamed Morsi. Human Rights Watch found 817 documented killings, adding that “additional unidentified bodies and missing individuals mean the death toll was likely above 1,000,” and described it as the worst mass killing of civilians in Egypt’s modern history.
“They asked for detailed information about each family member, age names and everything,” a family member, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said. Shortly before Imam left Egypt, the family home was raided by security forces.
“We didn’t live a normal life for months,” the family member added. “We didn’t ever return to that home as we were scared they would find us.”
Imam was granted Turkish citizenship in 2017 after finding refuge in the country, where many Egyptians have fled since 2014.
The same year, Imam was sentenced to life in prison in absentia for his social media activity, and was accused of being a Muslim Brotherhood member, according to his family.
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“He previously travelled to Yemen, to Saudi Arabia, he went to Qatar and Jordan…he hasn’t faced any problems before,” the family member said, discussing Imam’s travels after leaving Egypt.
The family’s names are included on an Egyptian airport watch list but it is unknown whether or not this list has been shared internationally.
Imam’s family are worried that he will likely tortured on arrival in Egypt, pointing out that he will be particularly at risk in detention as he suffers from high blood pressure.
Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera
