In a new blow to
Ola Bini’s
legal guarantees, Ecuadorean authorities retained the free software developer and security expert yesterday in Quito and ordered his immediate deportation from the country. He is barred from returning to Ecuador for 10 years.
According to
information released
by his lawyer, Bini was intercepted by a car with four people who identified themselves as immigration agents. He was then taken to an immigration office without further information or a formal order from a competent authority. There, officials told Bini that his visa had been revoked but didn’t show any supporting document.
Bini's defense
filed
habeas corpus
to safeguard his freedom and prevent his deportation. Yet, Ecuadorian authorities affirmed that the developer represents a threat or risk to public security and the state structure, and must leave the country. The ground for deportation is
a secret report
which allegedly asserts that Bini committed acts against the security of Ecuador. The defense could not access its contents.
The deportation hearing started yesterday at 5pm Quito time. Human rights organizations tried to attend the hearing but were
denied entry
. The hearing was suspended but later reconvened establishing his immediate deportation. Ola Bini was relocated to Quito's airport and must stay there until he flies back to Sweden.
The case that led to Bini's
unfounded criminal conviction
has expired (the statute of limitations ran out) and the court had already formally lifted all precautionary measures against him
. Yesterday's e
vents open a new chapter in the nefarious persecution of Ola Bini by Ecuadorean authorities.
Since Bini’s arbitrary arrest in 2019, EFF
has reported
about his criminal prosecution fraught with misconceptions and rights violations. The script of what happened yesterday follows the same patterns we saw in the entire case, from its outset with unjustified allegations that Bini was a national security risk. Th
