Sinai Peninsula. ארכיון גן-שמואל/Wikimedia Commons.
Between 2009 and 2014, a disturbing new phenomenon occurred on the Egyptian peninsula, close to the Israeli border: people on the move, mainly of Eritrean origin, were kidnapped and brought to so-called ‘torture camps’ for the purpose of extortion. There they were subject to the most horrific abuse, including rape, burning and hanging. During their torture, their relatives were called on the phone and connected ‘live’ to proceedings in order to enhance the pressure to pay.
Between 2009 and 2014, approximately 25,000 to 30,000 people were tortured in these camps.
