3 (2)

After they were arrested, Ali and his family appeared before the prosecutor but were released citing lack of evidence of illegal immigration. But the police kept them and other Syrians, with orders from security establishments. They were detained for three months in an arbitrary manner. They allege they were mistreated and forced under threat to accept their deportation to Syria in writing. Those who accepted were allowed to speak to their families or to NGOs to collect the money needed for their flights back to Syria. The police accompanied them to the airport. Ali's father says that deportees from Egyptian prisons were detained again once they reached Syria. The detention conditions were quite bad. Cells were 8 x 1.6 meters or smaller and accommodated more than 40 people at a time including children in a space meant for no more than 15. Ali says that they were treated worse than animals.