Three Congolese nationals who were witnesses at the International Criminal Court in The Hague were deported on Sunday, Amnesty International confirmed on Monday.

Amnesty and Human Rights Watch had called for the men not to be sent back because there are worries about their safety and whether they will receive a fair trial in Congo.

The three were brought to the Netherlands in 2011 to give evidence against two militia leaders. All three fought on the same side as the militia leaders – one of whom, Germain Katanga, was recently jailed for 12 years. They were in jail in Congo on war crimes charges when they were brought to the Netherlands.

Asylum

Under the agreement with Congo, the ICC would hold the three, allow them to give evidence, and then send them back. However, they all requested asylum but were turned down.

A lower court refused to send them back to the Congo, saying their lives could be in danger, but last month, the Council of State disagreed, saying the ICC had made proper agreements about their treatment.

‘The responsibility for their safety lies with the Netherlands,’ an Amnesty spokesman told the Telegraaf. ‘We expect the Netherlands to keep an eye on their treatment.’