assist

the campaign for repatriation efforts

Write letters

On our recent visit to Egypt in early 2006, we met with officials of the Nigerian embassy in Cairo, who are actively pursuing an agreement with the Egyptian authorities for repatriation. This is NOT an "exchange of prisoners" between two countries, dependant on specific numbers. According to the UN agreement adopted by the Seventh Crime Congress in Milan in 1985, "The social resettlement of offenders should be promoted by quickly facilitating the return of persons convicted of crime abroad to their home country to serve their sentence."  

Both Nigeria and Egypt were signatories of this UN agreement and so, if the individual prisoner is in agreement, such a repatriation should be straight forward. The delay appears to be on the part of the Egyptian authorities and we were requested by the Nigerian embassy official to ask individuals to write to the Egyptian embassy in their own country, encouraging cooperation with this effort.

We have prepared sample letters that can be copied and signed, along with more information, which we will be happy to send to you at your request.

Progress

After less than six months of our partners and contacts sending letters to encourage repatriation (as well as praying of course!) there is already noticeable advance in the repatriation talks. We have been asked to continue and increase our efforts, and as a result, have also started to encourage contacts from outside of North America to participate in this effort. Recently we have learned that letters are also being sent from Canada, England, Argentina and Australia, and we are hoping that soon contacts in other countries will also become involved.

Once such an agreement has been made with the Nigerian embassy, we plan to start similar efforts in conjunction with the embassies of other foreign inmates (such as Lebanon, India, Philippines etc). Since the same Egyptian officials will be involved then also, it is hoped that such further repatriation agreements will have fewer hindrances.

If you would like to learn more or assist with this repatriation effort, please contact us now: 

mailto:shirley@imofinc.org