Press statement: Abdulkarim Hossain arrested upon arrival

Press statement from SOS Racism in Norway and The Association of Syrian Kurds in Norway:

In spite of protests and warnings, Norwegian authorities chose to forcibly send Abulkarim Hossain back to Syria. He was arrested on arrival.

Hossain arrived on the Syrian capital Damascus around 0245 Friday morning. Information SOS  Racism has obtained says that he was immediately arrested by Syrian authorities and placed in the prison Bab Musala. At ten o’clock Saturday 21st August he was to be transferred to the prison Al Faiha, famous for its crimes against political activists, and under the rule of security police.

Abdulkarim Hossain’s life is in immediate danger, which is what was predicted by SOS Racism and others. The Norwegian authorities carry full responsibility for the situation Hossain now is in. He was thrown out of Norway and sent to a situation where his life is now in immediate danger, against well-informed advice.

The Norwegian authorities need to take responsibility for securing Hossain’s safety just as Germany had to when they deported Khaled Kenjo last autumn. It is not the first time this has happened –  Amnesty International’s first global campaign against Norway’s decision-making started when a Syrian Kurd was returned with force to be tortured in Syria in 2001.

Forced deportations to Syria must be stopped immediately!

For more information, contact:

SOS Racism:
Jan Erik Skretteberg
E-mail: jan.erik.skretteberg@sos-rasisme.no