SWEDEN PAYS DAMAGES TO SECOND EXPELLED EGYPTIAN

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000646 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PHUM PREF PGOV PREL EG SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN PAYS DAMAGES TO SECOND EXPELLED EGYPTIAN REF: STOCKHOLM 527 ¶1. (U) On September 19, the Swedish government settled with Ahmed Agiza, an Egyptian national, to pay around USD 500,000 in damages--a large amount in Swedish courts--related to the circumstances of his deportation to Cairo. The award was not directly related to his claims of torture by U.S. agents. In December 2001, the Swedish Security Police, reportedly acting in cooperation with the U.S., expelled via U.S. aircraft Agiza and Muhammed Alzery/Mohammed al-Zari, suspected of having connections with terrorist organizations. The Swedish government sought and received assurances from the Egyptians that Agiza and Alzery would not be tortured. ¶2. (U) The settlement stated that Agiza's claims of torture by U.S. agents were credible and accused the Swedish Security Police of allowing "brutal treatment" of the Egyptian by U.S. agents. An identical decision on Alzery's case was made on June 2 (reftel). The government has instructed the Swedish Migration Board to review the men's request to overturn the denials of their asylum applications. The Swedish Helsinki Committee, representing both men, believes a decision on asylum will be made this fall. Both men are in Egypt, but only Agiza is incarcerated. SILVERMAN