Egyptian handed over to CIA demands damages from Sweden

Jun 7, 2007, 15:23 GMT

Stockholm - An Egyptian national who was handed over to the CIA in 2001 and deported to Egypt in a much-criticized decision has demanded 30 million kronor (4.3 million dollars) in compensation from the Swedish government, his lawyer said Thursday.

Mohammed al-Zari and fellow national Ahmed Agiza were in December 2001 handed over to CIA agents and flown to Egypt where they were suspected of terrorist activities.

Terrorist suspects often risk torture in Egypt but the former Swedish government relied on assurances from Cairo that the two men would not be ill-treated.

'The Swedish state is jointly responsible for the torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment al-Zari was subjected to,' lawyer Kjell Jonsson told Swedish radio news.

'The terrible suffering he was subjected to during the 675 days he was held in Egypt form the basis for the compensation demand,' he added.

Earlier this year, Migration and Asylum Minister Tobias Billstrom said the cabinet had ordered the chancellor of justice to investigate possible demands for compensation from al-Zari.

Jonsson said his client, who was in Egypt, was also considering a new request for asylum in Sweden after the government ordered the Swedish Migration Board to allow al-Zari to renew his application.

Sweden has been criticized by among others the UN Human Rights Committee over the renditions of al-Zari and Agiza.

Agiza has earlier alleged that he was ill-treated on return according to among others the New York-based group Human Rights Watch.

Last month, the government ordered that the Swedish Migration Board should also allow Agiza to renew his application for asylum.

Agiza was also expected to present demands for compensation, and the chancellor of justice was expected to make his decision when he had also reviewed Agiza's application.