On October 26 in downtown Seoul, Egyptian political refugees living in Korea held a rally and march demanding legal recognition of their refugee status.

These refugees participated in the Egyptian revolution of 2011 and fled to Korea in 2018 to escape the repression of the authoritarian El Sisi regime, which came to power after the counter-revolutionary coup in 2013.

After eight years in Korea, they have still not been granted refugee status. Recently, not only the Ministry of Justice but also the courts have rejected their applications for refugee status.

In response, the Egyptian refugees decided to wage a campaign, starting on October 14 with a rally in front of the Presidential Office, followed by a series of actions outside the UNHCR Korea office, the Incheon Immigration and Foreigner Service, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Assembly, all calling for recognition of their refugee status.

Numerous civil society organizations including the Refugee Rights Centre, the Association of Physicians for Humanism, progressive pastors, the Fixed-Term Teachers’ Union, the National Council of Professors and Researchers for a Democratic and Equal Society, Shalom House for migrant solidarity, and Workers’ Solidarity took part in solidarity or expressed support for these actions.

The October 26 rally and march in downtown Seoul was joined by around 150 people, including not just the refugees but also Koreans and people from diverse migration backgrounds.

“Trapped in a giant prison”

The first speaker, Egyptian political refugee Kamal, began his speech by saying: “Today’s rally and march is not just for Egyptian political refugees; it is to demand that the rights of all refugees in Korea be guaranteed and their legal and humanitarian treatment improved.”

“ We are political activists from Egypt. We fought against the El Sisi regime that carried out a military-coup. That is exactly why we suffered political persecution, arrests, torture, military trials, and detention.”

“In the process, many comrades tried to flee from persecution and escape death. Many of them failed. A large number of those who could not escape were killed or imprisoned. Even now, more than 60,000 political activists are slowly dying in the prisons of El Sisi’s regime.”

“Only a small number managed to escape, and we here today are among those lucky few.”

Kamal said that eight years have passed under the Korean government’s “deliberate delay, inhumane treatment, confiscation of identification cards, threats of deportation, and ignoring of evidence submitted to support our case”, highlighting the precarious existence of refugee applicants.

“We are unable to work, unable to access medical treatment, and unable to secure a basic livelihood. We now feel like we are trapped in a giant prison.”

He called on Koreans for support and solidarity: “I firmly believe that Korean citizens, who defended democracy against dictatorship, will not turn a blind eye to another injustice happening on this land.”

Among the participants were many children of Egyptian refugees born in Korea or attending school in Korea.

Hur, a middle-school student, stood on the podium and spoke about her family’s situation: “If my father returns to Egypt he will be jailed. My father submitted all evidence showing how returning to Egypt is dangerous, but nothing has changed. I learned at school that Korea is a country of law and justice, but I have not seen justice applied to our family.”

Hur said resolutely: “We will not give up our rights. We will continue to demand until we get refugee status. We will not accept being treated as voiceless. We will continue to come out and raise our voices.”

“Refugees Welcome here!”

Choi Gyu-jin, Human Rights Commissioner of the Association of Physicians for Humanism, spoke about the medical difficulties faced by refugees. “Refugee applicants cannot receive health-insurance benefits. In other words, even if they are sick they cannot go to hospital. They suffer until they are close to death before seeking help.”

“This is not an exaggeration. Someone is actually about to die of cancer that grew out of a disease that was left untreated for eight years, while awaiting refugee recognition.”

“The sum of their suffering in Korea may now exceed what they had suffered in Egypt.”

Elementary school teacher Seo Ji-ae, who has had children of undocumented migrants as students, said refugee children who have not been granted refugee status “live in insecurity where even planning for a future is difficult”, and urged that refugee children be recognized as soon as possible so that they can enjoy steady care and education.

University student Kang Hye-ryeong condemned the government of President Lee Jae‑myung for ignoring the plight of the Egyptian political refugees: “Not long ago President Lee Jae-myung spoke with Egyptian dictator El Sisi and promised exchanges and cooperation, all while refugees who fled to Korea fighting against that dictator are left in the lurch.”

Hye-ryeong added: “Let us keep in mind that the struggle for recognition by our Egyptian comrades can give inspiration and confidence to many other oppressed and discriminated people in Korea. Until the day we realize justice together, we will not let go of our comrades’ hands.”

The protesters marched through the streets of Jongno and Insa-dong. Refugee children bravely joined, and some held megaphones chanting slogans.

The march attracted much interest and support. Wherever they went, eyes and cameras followed. “Refugees are welcome here,” a slogan often heard at refugee solidarity rallies globally, attracted a number of tourists who came up to applaud; a few even joined the march.

Many Koreans watched the march with fascination; many others looked on with warm smiles. Two middle-aged Korean women in front of Jogyesa temple watching said “How the refugees must have suffered”, as tears welled up in their eyes. A middle-aged man watching nodded repeatedly in affirmation. A young mother in Insa-dong told her young daughter: “They are people who fled from Egypt to Korea.”

After successfully completing the march, refugees and participants posed together for photographs, with bright smiles in their faces.

The Egyptian refugees said they would continue their actions. “Please continue the solidarity with the continuing actions we will carry on. Justice is not achieved overnight but by continuous, tenacious struggle.”

The Egyptian political refugees in Korea are showing that refugees are not merely people to be pitied, but that they can fight for themselves. According to some reports, their campaign is already inspiring refugees from other countries in Korea.

Egyptian refugees are calling on more Koreans and civic organizations to join in solidarity with their campaign for refugee recognition. Let’s answer their call!