Egypt's torture of Copts prompts warning, Rights group asks judge to make ban on deportation

A human rights organization given special consultative status by the United Nations wants a U.S. judge to make an order halting a Christian man's deportation to Egypt permanent – because of the likelihood he would be tortured. The request comes in the form of a court pleading from the Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice, whose European affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice in Strasbourg, France, has been given "special consultative status" from the United Nations. The groups are asking a federal court in Pennsylvania to protect the human rights of Coptic Christian Sameh Khouzam, 38, whose case has been ongoing for nearly a decade already. As WND reported earlier, a federal judge has ordered his deportation temporarily delayed, concluding that Egypt's diplomatic assurances it won't torture the Christian aren't reassuring, and Khouzam "most assuredly has a right not to be tortured." The companion centers now have filed an amicus brief with the court on Khouzam's behalf, seeking that the order be made permanent.

"This is an important case involving basic human rights and the proper role of the U.S. government," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ and ECLJ. "A federal judge has temporarily put the deportation of Khouzam on hold and it is only proper that such an order be made permanent to protect him from the likelihood of torture that all too often ends in death. As a Coptic Christian, Khouzam effectively has no rights in his native Egypt and quite frankly because of his religious beliefs is certain to be denied the most basic of human rights and protections. The U.S. government repeatedly has stated its opposition to torture and should do what's right – keep Khouzam out of the hands

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