By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Last month, Sudanese authorities deported at least 442 Eritrean refugees.
According to AllAfrica, Eritrea can conscript citizens under the age of 50 to serve in its military. Anyone under 50 who illegally leaves Eritrea is officially considered to be a deserter -- a crime punishable by forced labor and inhumane conditions, including torture.
International law states that refugees must not be denied the right to apply for asylum before being deported. It also forbids deporting asylum seekers to a country like Eritrea where they will face torture, ill-treatment or risk of life.
"Sudan is arresting and forcing Eritreans back into the hands of a repressive government without allowing refugees to seek protection," said Gerry Simpson, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Sudan should be working with the U.N. refugee agency to protect these people, not send them back to face abuse."