The Petition of Petter Lytton Cobbold, Ginette Lytton cobbold, Sr. Natalia Gomes, Anthony Clarkstone, Nifleda Wessling and Aemro Iyasu,
Declares that criminal gangs in Egypt’s Sinai Desert are kidnapping, trafficking and brutally torturing refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Eritrea and Sudan.
Amnesty International reported on 1 April 2013:
“many people held captive in Sinai have been subjected to extreme violence and brutality while waiting for ransoms to be paid by families. Including beatings with metal chains and whips; burning with cigarette butts or heated rubber and metal objects; suspension from the ceiling; pouring gasoline over the body and setting it on fire...being urinated on and having finger nails pulled out. Rape of men and women, and other forms of sexual violence have been frequently reported."
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons presses the United Nations to identify and apprehend traffickers in the Sinai, and to assist and protect victims of trafficking.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr Frank Field.]