Men deported from US bound and beaten in Equatorial Guinea detention hotel, lawyers say

Two men expelled from the United States to Equatorial Guinea were reportedly bound, beaten, and subjected to severe mistreatment shortly after their arrival. Witnesses and human rights lawyers indicate that the men, one from Egypt and the other from Eritrea, were attacked in view of other deportees. They were fitted with bags over their heads, beaten, and pushed down a flight of stairs before being transferred to a prison.
The incident occurred at the Hotel Bamy, a facility in Malabo that has been used as a detention center for deportees from the US. Approximately 30 detainees remain at the hotel, many of whom believe the attack was a retaliation for speaking out about the poor conditions and violence they have faced. Detainees report experiencing flashbacks from the violence and fear further retaliation.
Human rights advocates have raised alarms about the dangerous conditions at Hotel Bamy, a dilapidated establishment. The US government has deported at least 66 individuals from various countries, including African nations, Cuba, and Brazil, to Equatorial Guinea under a deal that has provided the country with $7.5 million to facilitate these deportations.
The Trump administration has sought to expel immigrants to third countries when direct deportation is not feasible due to concerns about torture or persecution in their home nations. This policy has left many individuals in limbo, without ties, language skills, or legal status in the countries to which they have been sent.
Advocacy groups express particular concern regarding deportees sent to Equatorial Guinea, where the government is known for human rights abuses, including torture. Detainees at Hotel Bamy have reported being under constant surveillance by armed guards and lacking access to medical care or basic necessities since their arrival.
One detainee suffering from a severe stomach hernia has not received necessary medical attention despite requiring hospital visits. Other detainees have managed to obtain medications for chronic health conditions through human rights lawyers, but they live in fear that their access to these medications could be abruptly terminated.
The two men who were tortured, identified as Ahmed Soliman, 31, from Egypt, and Samson Birhane, 47, from Eritrea, were arrested after being accused of breaking a mirror at the hotel. Multiple witnesses recounted that police officers shouted, "Where is the phone? Where is the phone?" during the beating, which occurred on September 11.
The violence followed the release of a video by Reuters that highlighted the deplorable conditions at Hotel Bamy and the aggressive behavior of the guards. The situation has drawn significant attention from human rights organizations, which continue to advocate for the well-being and rights of the detainees.


Photo provided by : The Guardian


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