Luxembourg reports of intimidation and violence in gaza solidarity action

Lalla Zeinab Bouanani was part of a five -member delegation from Luxembourg who wanted to take part in the « March to Gaza » campaign. However, the trip ended for them on Friday at Cairo Airportwhere it was arrested. In the meantime, the five activists from Egypt are back and report on their experiences on Tuesday afternoon before the press.

When Bouanani arrived at the airport in Cairo on Friday, she was arrested at the customs control « Without giving reasons » and held up to twelve hours in a separate room. She was both passed away and mobile phone.

The « March to Gaza », in which the five Luxembourgers wanted to take part, is almost 50 kilometers long and leads through the Sinai desert from Al-Arish to the border to the Gaza Strip. The march is intended to increase the international pressure for help for Gaza. In Cairo, over 50 different nationalities and thousands of activists met to take part.

Violence against women and activists

Even after Bouanani was free again, the five activists did not take part in the « March to Gaza » – « not because we did not want it, but because the Egyptian authorities prevented us from doing so. » The demonstration was only banned when the activists had arrived from 50 different countries. Until then, according to Bouanani, who was present at the press conference, there was no response from the Egyptian authorities.

Samuel Taqui, the only man in the delegation, reports violence against women and other activists when the delegation tried to get to Al-Arish. « I saw how women were beaten, petted and humiliated, » he says visibly shaken. Georgee Hein, also one of the activists from Luxembourg, explains that militias had been pushed into the groups of people. They saw the militias beating, and the Luxembourgers were also victims of violence. « Why did you beat us? » Asks Bouanani when she reports on her experience.

When the five activists tried to reach Al-Arish, they separated and took various taxis. Hein and Zeinab were stopped at the first checkpoint and the Egyptian authorities were denied them. Taqui, Garman and Mira Pinzi, on the other hand, reached the second checkpoint.

Never arrived at the starting point of the march

But the Luxembourg Delegation never reached the starting point of the « March to Gaza ». The Egyptian authorities pushed them into a bus without a window, took their passes and drove them back to Cairo. During the trip, the activists didn’t know where they would be brought until they arrived at the airport in Cairo. From there, the activists flew back to Luxembourg. « I will never set foot in Egypt again, » emphasizes Hein.

Hein has an explanation for why the Egyptian authorities have acted so violently against the activists: « The Egyptian regime is afraid that the population will face it. » Maya Garman mentions that even Nelson Mandela’s son was present. But his presence also did not prevent the militias and other violent offenders.

The Luxembourg delegation has been back in the country since Monday.