Free Abdikarim Sh Musse Qalbidhagah

To Whom It May Concern

I wish to bring your attention to the illegal detention and refoulement of a Somali refugee to Ethiopia.

On 23 August 2017, a Somali refugee from the Somali inhabited region in Ethiopia, having been living in Mogadishu for three years, was arrested by the regional security of the Galkacyo, Galmudug regional state in central Somalia. Mr Abdikarin Sheikh Muse, also an executive committee member of the ONLF, who advocates for the rights of Somali people in Ogaden, was then transferred to Mogadishu and held by the Somali National Security for a few days, during which his relatives were denied access to him, before being refouled to Ethiopia. The ONLF has had stated that they have no news of him since then.

This refoulement constitutes a violation of the principles laid out in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, to which Somalia acceded on 10 October 1978. Indeed, according to article 33-1, “No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” It is worth pointing out that Mr Abdikarin Sheikh Muse’s whole family was previously murdered because of his activism. OPRO and the UNPO today see the transfer of a political refugee by Somalia to Ethiopia as a threat to his right to life and freedom.

By this letter we request all Human Rights institutions to investigate the case of Mr Abdikarin Sheikh Muse and demand that Ethiopia clarifies his whereabouts and guarantee his well-being and accord him his legal rights under local and international laws.

We thank you in advance for your consideration and look forward to receiving your reply at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us if needed.

Best regards,