Egypt detains novelist Alaa Al-Aswani

Egyptian novelist Alaa Al-Aswani revealed yesterday that Egyptian security detained him at Cairo International Airport for a couple of hours for unknown reasons, local media reported.

Writing in an article with the headline “To be detained by Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi”, he said that he was detained while on his way to New York on an academic visit.

He said: “While waiting to check the passport, a security officer approached me and told me: ‘Come with me, please!’ I said: ‘Why?’ He replied: ‘We want to talk to you very briefly’.”

Al-Aswani continued: “I went with him and two other officers met me and after half an hour I asked them the reason behind my detention and they said: ‘You are wanted by the National Security!’”

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The novelist added: “Then, I tweeted: ‘I am detained in the airport.’ Then, I asked the officer: am I banned from travel, wanted or detained legally? He said: ‘The State Security who requested your detention.’ I said: ‘I am not a criminal or a terrorist and I refuse to be detained illegally’.”

After an hour, his luggage was searched once again and he was released. He was able to board his flight at the last minute.