'Kidnapped' Eritrean man in plea for life
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Warning: You may find graphic descriptions in the audio and text upsetting.
Listen to this horrible story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9772000/9772577.stm
An Eritrean man who says he will be killed by an Egyptian trafficking gang
in Sinai unless a $25,000 ransom is paid within days has spoken to the Today
programme's Mike Thomson.
Mike was given a mobile number to reach 22-year-old Philemon Semere by an
Eritrean pastor who knows his family and has been in direct contact with the
kidnappers himself. Pastor Mulugeta Mengsteab had earlier contacted the
captive Philemon and checked that he was happy to do the interview.
Philemon began by telling Mike, who made it clear that he was calling from
the BBC, that he had been held for four months and been treated very
brutally.
"I have not enough food, I have not enough water," he explained. "I've been
hit by sticks and burnt by fire with electricity. Daily, burnt by fire and
hit by sticks. My body is burning."
Throughout the interview background noises were very audible and it seemed
clear that the phone conversation was being conducted on a speaker phone.
Half way through the conversation a man, who said he was in charge of those
holding Philemon, butted into the conversation and confirmed that the family
will have to pay $25,000 if they want to see him alive again, adding "if he
don't give any money I must kill Philemon here."
Over the last few years an estimated 10,000, mainly Eritrean, refugees have
been kidnapped by people traffickers, largely based in Egypt's Sinai region.
Most disappear on the way to seek a better life in Israel.
During what is often months of captivity the captives are beaten and
tortured and their families asked to pay ransoms as high as $40,000 for
their release. Those who don't pay are killed. As many as 2,000 are thought
to have died in this way.
Since carrying out the interview with Philemon the BBC has contacted the
Egyptian authorities and alerted them to his situation. We have also spoken
to charities who have taken up his case including <
http://www.csw.org.uk/>
Christian Solidarity Worldwide who first drew attention to his story. The
BBC have also spoken to a member of Philemone's family who have said they
are willing for his case to be publicised and for the interview with him to
be broadcast.
It is impossible, from so far away, to verify Philemon's case. But Christian
Solidarity Worldwide, and other non-governmental organisations who have
studied the kidnap trade, say it bears all the hallmarks of what is now an
awful but thriving business in the Sinai region.
Convinced that his family does not have the money to meet the kidnapper's
demands, Philemon is clearly becoming desperate as their deadline nears:
"Please help. Please help me Mike. I haven't enough money, they will kill
me. Please help me."
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Received on Sat Nov 24 2012 - 18:11:24 EST
