Dear President Macron,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the deportation proceedings against Ramy Shaath, a Palestinian activist, following a decision by the Nanterre prefecture that stated his presence in France constitutes a “serious threat to public order.
Ramy Shaath is a well-known activist who was arbitrarily detained in Egypt from 2019 to 2022 before being released and relocating to France. He currently lives in France with his wife, a French citizen, and their young daughter. The decision to initiate deportation proceedings is deeply concerning given its significant human impact. Ramy Shaath was previously separated from his wife during his prolonged detention in Egypt, and deportation now threatens to separate him from his wife and young child.
In an advisory opinion, the Hauts-de-Seine departmental deportation commission has stated that “In the absence of any criminal conviction or a clear abuse of the right to freedom of expression, the statements attributed to Mr. Chaat…cannot be regarded as constituting a threat to public order”. While not binding, this conclusion reinforces concerns that continuation of the deportation proceedings would be a disproportionate restriction of his right to freedom of expression and incompatible with France’s human rights obligations.
Deporting him may also breach the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from transferring people to a place where they would face a real risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm, such as persecution, or torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. In addition, such a measure would constitute a disproportionate interference with his right to private and family life, given his family life established in France.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully urge you to immediately halt the deportation proceedings against Ramy Shaath in line with France’s international human rights obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, and to ensure that he remains in France with a secure legal status, with his family in safety and dignity and without fear of reprisals.
Lisätietoa
Ramy Shaath, 55, is a Palestinian activist who is currently facing deportation proceedings in France on the grounds that he poses a “serious threat to public order”.
He is currently living in France with his wife, a French citizen, and their young daughter. He has been without a valid residence permit in France since September 2023, following difficulties in the renewal of his initial temporary status. He has since been engaged in ongoing administrative and legal efforts to regularize his immigration status.
The deportation proceedings were initiated on 30 April by the Prefecture of Hauts-de-Seine in Nanterre, the departmental authority responsible for immigration and residence matters within its jurisdiction, against Ramy Shaath, on the grounds that his public expression, political activism, and association with several organizations and collectives on Palestine allegedly posed a threat to public order. No criminal charges have been brought against him in relation to these allegations.
On 21 May, the Hauts-de-Seine departmental deportation commission, a consultative body, composed of three judges, reviewing proposed expulsions of foreign nationals, issued a formal opinion opposing his removal. The commission concluded that in the absence of any criminal conviction or a clear abuse of the right to freedom of expression, Ramy Shaath’s statements do not constitute a threat to public order. Further, it stated that his expulsion would constitute a disproportionate interference with his right to family life and the best interests of his French-citizen daughter. However, the commission’s opinion is advisory and not binding on the French authorities, who retain the power to proceed with the deportation decision. While no deportation order has yet been issued, the proceedings remain ongoing. As no final deportation decision has been taken, Ramy Shaath is currently unable to challenge the measure before the courts. Until the authorities either formally discontinue the proceedings or issue a deportation order, Ramy Shaath continues to face uncertainty regarding his ability to remain in France with his family.
Since the start of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in October 2023, Amnesty International has documented multiple incidents of restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly across several European countries, including a chilling effect on activism in solidarity with Palestinians. This has included restrictions on demonstrations, policing measures targeting public assemblies, and the cancellation, prohibition, or disruption of events and discussions, related to Palestine, contributing to a wider climate of self-censorship and constrained public debate.
Ramy Shaath was a co-founder of the Egyptian chapter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign advocating boycotts, divestment, and sanctions in support of the rights of Palestinians, and has been active in political and rights-based advocacy in Egypt.
His activism has led to him being targeted by the Egyptian authorities. In July 2019, the police arrested him at his home in Cairo without a warrant. During the same operation, his wife, French national Céline Lebrun-Shaath, was detained and later deported to France without due process or consular access. Ramy Shaath was then held in incommunicado detention for approximately 36 hours. He was subsequently detained for more than two and a half years in Case No. 930/2019, commonly referred to as the “Hope Case,” a mass national security prosecution involving activists and political figures held on broad terrorism-related charges and subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention. Amnesty International at the time described him as a prisoner of conscience and called for his immediate and unconditional release, stating that his detention was solely linked to the exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
He was released in January 2022 after more than 900 days in detention, following sustained international pressure. His release was conditioned on the renunciation of his Egyptian citizenship, after which he relocated to France and reunited with his wife.