February 10/2006

The decision by a court in Tel Aviv to reject the asylum demand of 72 Ethiopians and to deport them back to Ethiopia contravenes all notions of justice. Though the judge said the deported will face no danger to their lives it is no secret to anyone that the Meles Zenawi regime is registered as one of the worst violators of human rights and had, in the past, "disappeared" deported refugees such as Azanaw Demile who was deported back from the Sudan in the early nineties.

The Israeli court decision goes against the reality of Ethiopia where a repressive regime continues to violate the rights of the people and fleeing from the country is by itself a crime worthy of punishment. If sent back, the 72 Ethiopians will surely face grave dangers to their lives and may be killed or disappeared. Their illegal detention in Israel for the past two years is by itself condemnable and this should not be compounded by a new violation of their rights by ordering their deportation to Ethiopia.

SOCEPP calls on the Israeli authorities to respect the asylum rights of the 72 Ethiopians and/or to secure their resettlement in a third country as soon as possible. Once again, SOCEPP expresses its indignation at the incapacity of the UNHCR to assure the rights of the refugees.