Egypt embassy in Berlin denies sending reports on activists to Cairo

The Egyptian embassy in Berlin denied Monday accusations circulating online that it was sending security reports on Egyptian political activists in Germany, leading to their arrest back home.

“Such allegations are only fabrications that reveal an intent to smear the reputation of Egyptian state institutions, including the foreign ministry and its embassies,” the embassy said in a statement, according to state-run news agency MENA.

“Such claims show a complete ignorance with the basic roles of Egyptian embassies in defending Egypt’s national interests and serving its expats.”

The embassy denied having any prior knowledge that some activists going back to Egypt from Germany would be interrogated by security forces upon arrival.

“The arrest warrants and no-fly lists are issued by the judiciary and implemented by the state’s executive apparatuses,” said the statement.

The embassy’s statement comes days after security forces at Cairo International Airport barred researcher and political activist Atef Botros from entering the country and deported him after being questioned.

In December 2015, Egyptian researcher and journalist Ismail Alexandrani was arrested at the airport after arriving from Germany and is currently detained pending trial on charges of “broadcasting false news” and joining the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.

source: Ahram Online