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Home » Jordan » Press Releases » JOR - News » Jordan: Imminent risk of torture of Ashraf Abdulsalam following deportation
Mr Abdulsalam was first arrested and detained by the Jordanian General Intelligence in June 2010. He was not allowed to contact anyone outside the prison for three weeks after his arrest and when his family was finally able to visit him, they noticed marks of torture on his body. Following his release on 28 September 2010, he was first placed under house arrest, but as soon as these restrictions were lifted, he left the country to take up residence in Bahrain.
Two years after his release, on 25 September 2012, agents from the Bahraini State Security in civilian clothing suddenly came to his home in the Arad District of Muharraq Governorate and arrested Mr Abdulsalam and his younger brother. Both were taken to the State Security forces' headquarters and while the brother was sent back to fetch Mr Abdulsalam's passport, he remained in custody. The passport was handed to the Bahraini authorities later that day, but the family was not able to see Mr Abdulsalam and they were not informed of the reason for his arrest.
Yesterday, on 26 September, Mr Abdulsalam's brother returned to the State Security's headquarters to ask about Ashraf's situation. There, he was flatly told that Mr Abdulsalam had already been handed over to the Jordanian authorities. This means that he was forcibly returned to a country where he risks being subjected to torture – without prior notice and without the possibility to appeal this measure.
Even though two days have passed since Mr Abdulsalam's deportation to Jordan, his family still has no information regarding his situation. Recalling the torture he was subjected to in 2010, Alkarama fears that he is again at high risk of being tortured and therefore submitted his case to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, calling on the Jordanian authorities to protect his physical and mental integrity.