Egypt: a statement about the detention of the Tunisian academician and writer Dr. Amel Grami in Cairo International Airport

The Organizations and personalities signatories of this statement received with great discomfort the news of detention and deportation of the Tunisian academician and writer Dr. Amel Grami on Sunday January 3, 2016 by the Egyptian security authorities at Cairo International Airport. Dr. Grami, who travelled to Egypt upon an official invitation from the Library of Alexandria to deliver a presentation at the International Conference to Combat Extremism, was detained for more than 16 hours before starting the deportation proceedings without disclosing the reasons behind her detention.

During Dr. Amel Grami’s interview to get more details concerning her denied entry to Egypt, airport detention and deportation to Tunisia, she expressed shock at Egyptian authorities treatment and insistence on denying her entry to Egypt considering her thus as dangerous to public security. Dr. Amel Grami expressed a strong disgruntlement with the ill-treatment from the security authorities at Cairo airport despite her prior multiple visits to Egypt for work with various Egyptian academies and journalism institutions.

Dr. Grami spoke about her detention under tough conditions and confirmed during the interview that she was placed in an office in front of the detention room where there were three security officers as well as a certain number of detainees. The security officers kept smoking and insisting on closing the office door without taking into account her health conditions despite the notification she made about her sensitiveness when exposed to smoking and repeatedly begged to open the door as she almost fainted. There were also attempts to force her to sit for long hours despite her health condition which requires movement for back relief. Moreover, no meal was provided during her detention, that lasted over 16 hours, except for access to a cafeteria located at Cairo International Airport. Dr. Grami also had her personal computer and mobile phone withdrawn after allowing her to make a final call she insisted to make to inform the Library of Alexandria (the organizer) she was denied entry to the country. The latter sent her a security official who tried to identify the detention reasons and assured her that it is just a misunderstanding and that she’ll be quickly leaving the airport. However, despite his attempts and numerous calls, he told her that they have to wait until the following day to call high officials at the Ministry of Interior, which Dr. Grami rejected and insisted to return to Tunisia.

She also confirmed that she was interrogated five times during her detention by security officers who asked the same questions about the reason for the visit and her presentation topic on which she provided them with exhaustive answers each time.

Dr. Grami stated in a message that this violation does not represent Egypt’s cultural and civilizational and historical value, instilled by the Egyptian people, the intellectuals and academicians at local and international levels and sent her greetings for all the free voices and minds that supported her in this ordeal. She maintained that such attitudes are a real test for the policies of nations and their relationships and the reality of their respect for the rule of law and human rights in a pragmatic and practical way beyond any slogans.

The Organizations and personalities signatories of this statement express their full support to Dr. Amel Grami, condemn this flagrant violation of human rights and call on the Egyptian authorities and the Egyptian Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs to provide explanation along with due apology for such an ill-treatment that constitutes a violation to the rule of law and human rights.

The undersigned organizations

Association of memory and prospects
Views Association

1. Association of memory and prospects
2. Views Association
3. Association (ZANOOBYA) for art and creativity in the service of sustainable development
4. Republic defenders (Houmet Al-Joumhouria)
5. Association Jasmine for Culture and the Environment
6. Tunisian network for combating corruption and bribery
7. Habib Bourguiba Foundation
8. The Tunisian Association of Democratic Women
9. Lam Echaml Association
10. International Institute for Sustainable Development
11. Association Femmes & leadership
12. Democratic Society and vigilant citizenship
13. Association Tunisia elects
14. Association of Women Voters
15. Tunisian League for Citizenship
16. Democratic and human rights support center (DAAM)
17. Kolena Tunis

18. The regional coalition for women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in the middle east and north Africa (MENA)

The undersigned personalities

1. Ahlem Belhadj, ATFD child psychiatrist
2. Emna Jeblaoui, University Professor in the Faculty of Letters of Arts and Humanities la Manouba
3. Faouzia Farida Charfi, University Professor, Physician
4. Ayda Ben Chaabane, Professor and feminist activist
5. Iqbàl El GHARBI, University Professor
6. Dalenda Largueche, History Professor
7. Meriem Bourguiba Laouiti, President of Habib Bourguiba Foundation
8. Jouda BAKIR, documentalist and retired University Professor
9. Mounira Chaboutou Remadi, University Professor
10. Boutheina Ben Hssine, University Professor
11. Halima Mrad, Entrepreneur
12. Wafa Sfar , Executive in the Tunisian Central Bank
13. Dalila Msadak, Lawyer
14. Sana Ghenima, President of Femmes & Leadership
15. Olfa Youssef, University Professor and writer
16. Inchirah Hababou, Architect- town planner
17. Rabâa Ben Achour, retired University Professor
18. Zeyneb Farhat, President of the Association ZANOOBYA for art and creativity in the service of sustainable development
19. Raja Ben Slama, writer
20. Selma Baccar, filmmaker and constituent Professor in Manouba University
21. Souad Slam
22. Mongia Nefzi, University Professor
23. Hend Hajjami, University Professor
24. Souad Triki, University Professor
25. Zeineb Ben Said, Philosophy Professor in Tunis University
26. Alya Chérif Chammari, Lawyer
27. Imen Bjaoui, the ex-President of the Tunisian Association of Young Lawyers
28. Amel Ettounsi
29. Samia Charfi Kaddour, Professor in the Sciences Faculty of Tunis
30. Thouraya Fersi, interpreter and human rights activist
31. Chawki Tabib, ex-President of the Tunisian Bar Association
32. Nadhir Ben Yedder, lawyer
33. Koutheir Bouallegue, lawyer
34. Mohamed Omran, researcher and human rights activist
35. Lotfi Ezzedine, lawyer and human rights activist
36. Taoufik Echamari, retired
37. Ahmed Fawzy, lawyer and human rights activist
38. Ines Hammami, University Professor
39. Nejib Ben Saoud
40. Khadija Ben Hassine, University Professor
41. Hedia Yakhlef, teacher
42. Saidi Fethia, Sociologist / University Professor and member of the executive bureau of Al Massar party
43. Saied Hmida, Insurer
44. Fethi Mahjoub
45. Nora Essafi, retired University Professor
46. Abd-el-hamid Khairi
47. Lamia Ben Ammar, teacher
48. Rifaat Sallam, Poet
49. Dr. Mounir Megahed,  former vice president of nuclear power stations
50. Hana Farid, retired teacher
51. Diaa Ternawly, Teacher
52. Ishak Ibrahim, Journalist and Researcher
53. Dina Kadry, Journalist
54. Nagui Artin, Agricultural engineer
55. Saloua charfi
56. Nihel Ben Amar
57. Ayda ben chaabane
58. Besma Soudani
59. Mokhta Trifi, Lawyer
60. Mozn Hassan, Activist
61. Zeina Zaatari
62. Magda Adly
63. Meha Joiuni