Cablegate: Embassy Cairo

VZCZCXRO3472
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #1848 2671417
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241417Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHCSECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3700
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB IRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001848

SIPDIS

DEPARTENT FOR NEA/ELA, DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/2/2029
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF EG
SUBJECT:EMBASSY RAISES HAASSMENT OF EGYPTIAN CONVERTS
WTH MFA

REF: A. CAIRO 1109 B. CAIRO 477 Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counseor Donald A. Blome for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) n September 23, Economic-Political Minister-Counslor raised with MFA Deputy Assistant Minister fo Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd recent reports that cnverts from Islam to Christianity had been preveted in separate incidents from leaving Egypt, an, in one case, reportedly abused by security offiials. Minister-Counselor raised the same issue eparately with MFA Deputy Assistant Minister forthe Americas Amin Meleika.

2. (C) Specific incdents raised included that of XXXXXXXXXXXX who told us that GoE security officials at Cairo International Airport prevented him on eptember 17 from boarding a flight to China; XXXXXXXXXXXX, who reported to the Department that security officials, also at Cairo airport, preveted her on July 31 from boarding a flight to Suda, shortly after she publicly announced her convesion to Christianity; and XXXXXXXXXXXX, who infored us that she was prevented in December 2008 frm boarding a flight to Russia, and who also clais to have been physically and sexually assaulted y security officials during her subsequent detenion on charges of carrying fraudulent identity dcuments.

3. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX was aware of each idividual, but said he did not know that they hadbeen prevented from traveling or that they were o a GoE "no-travel" list. XXXXXXXXXXXX said that h would look into the matter and respond. XXXXXXXXXXXX as unfamiliar with the cases, but also said he wuld investigate. We will follow-up with the MFA Scobey

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