Brazilian left-wing activist Thiago Ávila, who participated in Greta Thunberg’s international flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip last year and in an “aid convoy” to Cuba this year, was prevented from entering Argentina this Tuesday (31). The information was released by people close to Ávila on social media, who reported that he was detained at Buenos Aires airport and received a deportation order.
According to information from the agency EFEÁvila was detained at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, in the Argentine capital, after disembarking in the country to participate in the announcement of the local delegation of the so-called Sumud Global Flotilla, which intends to organize a new maritime mission in the coming days bound for Gaza.
According to reports that were released, the activist was informed by Argentine authorities that he would not be allowed to enter the country. According to the information, he remains in custody with a deportation order.
Authorities from the National Directorate of Migration and the Argentine Ministry of Security did not detail the reasons for the decision to bar Ávila from entering the country. Argentine left-wing deputy Mónica Schlotthauer told the agency EFE that, technically, the case would have been classified as false tourism.
According to Lara Souza, Ávila’s wife, the Argentine agents reported that there was an alert related to the activist’s passport and that he was “not welcome” in the country. She also reported that she was allowed to enter Argentina with her daughter, while her husband remains detained.
According to reports released by people close to the activist, Ávila was scheduled to travel to Spain this Wednesday (1st), from where he would continue on the new expedition towards Gaza. The same sources state that the Argentine authorities tried to anticipate his departure from the country, including the possibility of deportation to Uruguay.
According to organizers, the new flotilla for Gaza will have more than 100 vessels and around 3,000 participants. The initiative continues last year’s expedition that attempted to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip and was intercepted by Israel.
