Luxembourg activist arrested in Cairo

« Without giving reasons or charges » Lalla Zineb Bouanani was arrested at the Cairo airport on Friday after her arrival, said a press release from the « Comité Pour Une Paix Juste Au Proche Orient », an NGO that is committed to peace in the Middle East and thus also in Palestine. Bouanani traveled with four other people as part of the Luxembourg delegation to the « March to Gaza ».

At this internationally organized event, the participants cover 50 kilometers through the Sinai desert-from al-Arish to the border of the Gaza Strip. The march is intended to increase international pressure to enable the import of relief goods in the Gaza Strip.

When asked by the « Luxemburger Word », the coordinator of the Luxembourg Delegation, Patrick Bosch, said that the five delegation members had entered Cairo separately. Bouanani flew to Cairo alone, where she was arrested at the customs control at the airport and captured in a separate room. Her phone and passport were taken from her, as it was from a press release. This was also confirmed by Bosch. The other members left their hotel « for fear that the Egyptian authorities could search for them ».

According to Bosch, the Luxembourg delegation is now on its way to Al Arish. Bouanani was therefore released. There are several checkpoints on the route.

The activist living in Leifelange is affected by a disability. Therefore, she is particularly committed to disabled children in Palestine.