Somalis deported from US shackled for 46 hours and abused-civil rights body

Somali nationals who were returned to the US after their plane developed technical hitches in Senegal were subjected to inhumane conditions and remained chained for two days in the plane, an American civil rights body has said.

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) said in a statement Tuesday the 92 Somalis who had been deported from the US suffered in the hands of immigration and customs enforcement officials and Senegalese security personnel.

“For nearly 46 hours passengers on the plane remained shackled, were not given adequate food or water, and denied access to a working restroom,” said ADC.

Some of the passengers were forced to relieve themselves in empty bottles while others urinated on themselves, ADC noted adding ‘the air condition on the plane was not working, and the temperature was at an inhumane level.’

The plane carrying the 92 Somalis left the US December 7 destined for Somalia but grounded in Senegal due to technical problems before reverting to Florida. “The plane sat on the tarmac for nearly 24 hours, with the passengers not permitted to get off-of the plane,” said ADC.

ADC which describes itself as civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent said it had demanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide immediate medical attention to the Somalis and delay their removal from the US for at least 30 days to allow them meet with their attorneys.

“Forcing these individuals to remain restrained for nearly a day on an airport tarmac, in smoldering temperatures, without consistent access to food, water, toilets or air-conditioning is simply inhumane and unacceptable,” ADC Legal Director Abed Ayoub.

Goobjoog News was not able to get a comment from ADC about the status of their request to ICE by the time of publishing this story.