GOE HOLDS PROMINENT BLOGGER AT AIRPORT, SEIZES HIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001263

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FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM EG
SUBJECT: GOE HOLDS PROMINENT BLOGGER AT AIRPORT, SEIZES HIS
LAPTOP

REF: A. CAIRO 1182

B. CAIRO 544

C. CAIRO 243

D. 07 CAIRO 3214

Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counselor
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Blogger Wael Abbas told us GOE passport and customs
officials held him at Cairo International Airport for 13
hours on June 30 upon his return from a conference in Sweden.
Abbas said the officials did not ask him any questions, but
searched him very thoroughly in what amounted "almost to a
strip search." Abbas noted that the officials told him they
were searching for illegal items he might be smuggling into
Egypt. He said they went through his wallet, and took his
papers from the conference presumably to make photocopies
before returning them. Abbas told us the officials seized
his laptop and did not return it before he was released.


2. (C) According to Abbas, one official told him in
confidence that he was held because MOI State Security
Investigative Services (SSIS) had placed him on a watch list.
This official said customs received orders from SSIS to
seize his laptop. Abbas noted that he had never been held
for this length of time previously, and he speculated that
SSIS was responding to critical comments he made about the
GOE at the conference. Abbas said he understood that two
ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) officials who were
also there reported his remarks to the GOE. On July 2, Abbas
posted on his blog a photo of himself being held at the
airport and approximately 20 articles and letters on the
incident from the media and supportive NGOs. He promised to
blog about the experience after resting.


3. (C) Member of the quasi-governmental National Council for
Human Rights and Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
(EOHR) Secretary-General Hafez Abu Seada told us EOHR lawyers
are acting on Abbas' behalf to retrieve the laptop. Abu
Seada said the copyright division of the Cairo police
department is holding the laptop, and that the GOE may take
legal action against Abbas for software copyright
infringement. According to Abu Seada, the GOE is trying to
threaten Abbas and "send a strong message" to all bloggers.
On July 2, we expressed concern over Abbas' treatment to MFA
Deputy Director for Human Rights Omar Shalaby, and called for
the return of his laptop. Shalaby said he would get back to
us with any substantive response.


4. (C) Comment: The harassment and mistreatment of one of
Egypt's most prominent bloggers is probably intended to show
Abbas and other bloggers and activists that the GOE reserves
the right to retaliate against public criticism it finds
particularly embarrassing. For years, Abbas has posted
photos of police brutality and abuse without the GOE
responding by holding him in custody (reftels),but it
appears that his negative public remarks at an international
conference have crossed a red-line. Abbas has accused SSIS
of pressuring news organizations to fire himself and other
bloggers in the past (ref B). The GOE's June 30 actions
constitute a more direct and confrontational approach to
intimidation.
SCOBEY