Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2015-03-25
The Media Review Network (MRN) is calling for the immediate release of a South African man of Egyptian descent being detained in Egypt’s notorious Torah prison.
65 year old Sheikh Abdul Salam Jad Bassiouni, who heads the Al-Tawheed Centre in Lenasia, was detained by Egypt’s national security at Cairo airport accompanied by his family at the beginning of December 2014.
According to Iqbal Jassat an executive member of MRN, despite Bassiouni’s SA passport and possessing a valid visa, the well-respected Scholar finds himself languishing without charge in the same prison complex where many high profile political figures, including the deposed President Mohamed Morsi is held.
“From reports received via sources in Egypt, Sheik Bassouini is accused of being a member of the Ikhwan al Muslimeen (Muslim Brotherhood). “
“The Muslim Brotherhood played a pivotal role during the height of the Arab Spring when along with multi-million masses of the population, Egypt revolted against the Mubarak dictatorship,” said Jassat.
Jassat said the post-revolutionary phase in Egypt, despite heralding a government for the people by the people, was however short lived when a violent military coup led by General Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi brutally ended the democratic process.
MRN believes that Sheik Bassiouni has become a victim of Sisi’s paranoia.
“In addition to the uncertainty of his fate given that he hasn’t been charged yet and consular access is being frustrated, concerns expressed by his family about his medical condition is equally real.”
Jassat says that to date the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) has not commented on Egypt’s blatant violation of a South African citizen’s human rights.
“Is it because they are unaware of this troubling matter? Or is it perhaps due to the Sisi regime’s manipulation of facts in order to distort information thus seeking to justify his continued detention under false pretense?
“Whatever the reasons may be for DIRCO’s silence and inaction, it remains intolerable that South African citizens are subjected to harassment and unjust detentions by a regime whose legitimacy is questionable,’’ said Jassat.
“As South Africa, we certainly cannot countenance the political chicanery associated with Sheik Bassiouni’s arrest and indefinite detention without trial.”
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