EMBASSY RAISES HAASSMENT OF EGYPTIAN CONVERTS WTH MFA

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 Maher Al
Gohary (rf A and B),who told us that GoE security officials
at Cairo International Airport prevented him on eptember 17
from boarding a flight to China; Nagaa El Imaam, who
reported to the Department thatsecurity 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 Martha Makkar, 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) Aboul Magd 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. Aboul Magd said
that h would look into the matter and respond. Meleika as
unfamiliar with the cases, but also said he wuld
investigate. We will follow-up with the MFA

Scobey