14th January 2015
Mr Heiko Maas
Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection
Berlin office
Mohrenstraße 37
10117 Berlin
via email
Re: The brutal Killing of Khaled Idris Bahray, a 20-year-old refugee from Eritrea
Dear Mr Maas,
We are writing to express our shock at the brutal killing of Khaled Idris
Bahray, a 20-year-old refugee from Eritrea who was found dead on Tuesday, 13th January
2015, in the yard of a housing estate where he had accommodation with
seven other refugees in Dresden.
Human Rights Concern-Eritrea (HRCE) condemns the unprovoked cruel killing
and we believe that this is a heinous crime committed against an innocent
young man who sought refuge in Germany. He had gone out shopping when he
was killed. It seems extraordinary that, according to news reports, the
German police initially claimed they did not suspect foul play even though
the body was covered in blood and wounds and this happened in the wake of
the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim demonstrations in Dresden, and given
the persistent threats refugees in the area have been experiencing, there
seems to be little doubt that Mr. Bahray is a victim of these extremists.
His friends, and the Eritrean refugee community in the area are reeling
from this traumatic experience and the continuous threats they face from
extremist and racist groups.
We respectfully call on your government to:
- conduct an autopsy examination in a transparent manner
- bring the perpetrators of the abominable killing of a vulnerable refugee to justice
- arrange an appropriate burial of Mr. Bahray in the presence of his family and his friends
- provide counselling to the friends with whom he lived
- provide the Eritrean refugee community in the area with adequate protection measures
yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Chyrum
Director
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea
hrc.eritrea2001@gmail.com
+44 7958 005 637
www.hrc-eritrea.org
Cc:
UNHCR-Germany
Zimmerstrasse 79/80
10117 Berlin
The UNHCR Head of Sub-Office
Frankenstr. 210
90461 Nürnberg
The VOICE Refugee Forum
Schillergässchen 5
07745 Jena
Amnesty International in Germany
Zinnowitzer Strasse 8
10115 Berlin
Human Rights Watch
Wolfgang Buettner
Neue Promenade 5
10178 Berlin