Stockholm - An Egyptian national who was handed over to the
CIA in 2001 and deported to Egypt in a much-criticized decision is to
be awarded damages by the Swedish government, reports said Friday.
Ahmed Agiza's lawyer was quoted as telling the Swedish news agency
that her client had accepted the offer of 3 million kronor (450,000
dollars) in compensation.
Agiza was along with Mohammed al-Zari in December 2001 handed over
to CIA agents and flown to Egypt where they were suspected of
terrorist activities.
The former Swedish government relied on assurances from Cairo that
the two men would not be ill-treated at the time, but both men have
alleged that they were ill-treated on return according to among
others the New York-based group Human Rights Watch.
In July, al-Zari - who remains in jail - was awarded the same
amount in compensation. He had reportedly demanded 30 million kronor.
Migration and Asylum Minister Tobias Billstrom in March 2007 said
the cabinet had approved that the chancellor of justice should
investigate possible demands for compensation.
The government also instructed the Swedish Migration Board to
review possible renewed applications for asylum from the two men.
The cabinet decision mirrored recommendations by the UN Human
Rights Committee that criticized Sweden over the renditions.
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