Salamander

Cairo - 31 January 2007

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) and Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) condemn the prevention of Mohamed Al-Maskati, human rights activist and Director of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) from entering Egypt today. The Cairo Airport Security Service held Al-Maskati in custody for more than 12 hours at the airport before he was deported back to Bahrain.

Al-Maskati (20 years-old) arrived at Cairo airport early this morning to participate in the seminar titled "The Role of Youth in Supporting Freedoms and Democracy" which is to be hold by BYSHR and APHRA today.

HRinfo and APHRA consider the prevention of Al-Maskati from entering Egypt a clear example on the cooperation between security bureaus of Arab ministries of interior, with the purpose to hinder and even punish Arab human rights activists who are well-known for their credibility and good reputation. Al-Maskati is one of the Bahraini activists who bravely disclosed the illegal involvement of the Bahraini government into Al-Bandar Gate. In addition, he recently participated in a peaceful rally before the Egyptian embassy in Bahrain in protest on the detention of Kareem Amer, the Egyptian blogger who is going to be tried in Alexandria tomorrow morning.