Egyptian Man Seeks Relief Under the Convention Against Torture
WH is a 35 year old homosexual man from Egypt. He is afraid to return to Egypt because of the physical and mental abuse he has suffered in the past as a result of his sexual orientation. He initially arrived in the United States in 1995 on a B-2 visa which he overstayed.
Six months before WH came to the United States he was arrested by Cairo police at a checkpoint because of his sexual orientation. The police beat him with a metal pipe, lacerated his face, and held his fingers in boiling water. WH was arrested and beaten a number of other times by police because of his sexual orientation. Three months before WH came to the United States he was arrested as a college student in Cairo for protesting against the Mubarak government. The police forced him to disrobe and proceeded to rape and beat him and inflict electrical shocks to his naked body.
WH still carries physical scars from his torture. He has scars on his fingers where they were boiled, near his eye where he was cut, and on his leg.
Although the Egyptian government has undergone recent fundamental changes there is no evidence whatsoever that treatment of homosexuals will improve. The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest political group in Egypt still condemns homosexuality. The Muslim Brotherhood is expected to gain wide control of the Egyptian Parliament through its associated Freedom and Justice Party following the 2011 parliamentary election.
This pro bono opportunity will require assisting WH in applying for protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). He is not eligible for withholding or asylum because of his criminal convictions.
WH speaks English. He is detained at Hampton Roads Regional Jail, which is roughly three hours away from Washington, D.C. CAIR Coalition has a Video-Teleconferencing System which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients via televideo from our office in DC. CAIR Coalition is also available to assist in visiting the client at the jail.
Please contact our Staff Attorney, Amar Nair at (202) 331-3320, ext. 16 if you are interested in taking this case.
