The blindfolded, for four days.

Permanent interrogations, the same questions, blindfold and handcuffs: After his release describes the German-Egyptian student Philip Rizk, 27, the four terrible days of his life.

 

The food was good, says Philip Rizk, das least morning and evening, there was bread with cheese or jam, noon rice with chicken or chopped, plus an orange a day. If they were satisfied with him, they took him from the handcuffs, the interrogations.

But they were mostly satisfied not.

Rizk, the German-Egyptian student who knew four days, not sure where he was, and he only knew why they kept him prisoner. Security authorities had him last Friday
arrested after a demonstration, much evidence suggests that there is the domestic secret service agents were.

He is now free again and this Thursday to celebrate his 27th Birthday with his family. What he tells of blogs ONLINE captivity, shows how quickly one in a country like Egypt is the enemy of the state. Enough already, a blog, and to sign hochzuhalten on which is the wrong thing.

Rizk published on his blog
"tabulagaza", which is locked now, reports on the suffering and lives of people in the Gaza Strip. During a protest march at the end of last week he wore a sign: "We have had enough. Open the Rafah Crossing." It's open criticism of Egypt's Middle East policy, a country which borders with the Gaza Strip will open only if Israel agrees.

"We get everything out of you," she threatened him

On the way back to Cairo police stop him and his friends, bring Rizk security forces in a minivan with no license plates away. For what then happens, there are no witnesses, Rizk just talking about it.

AP
Prior to the arrest: Rizk protesting for the people in the Gaza Strip

So that everything actually took place, as he describes the views that speak of organizations such as Amnesty International. This is also the reports of numerous unofficial sources that do not want to be named out of fear for their families or their jobs. And evidence suggests that even Rizk no religious or political zealots, but a quiet talking, prudent man

Rizk that the following happens: The security forces combine his eyes and put him in handcuffs. You take away his cash, 53 pounds, his cigarettes, his keys and his mobile phone. He does not know where he is detained. But there are always the same two men who asked him in Arabic. They call themselves Melek and Nour. He sees them not only to recognize the voices. "At the very beginning of a knocked me on the head and said: We get everything out, because what's inside," says Rizk.

YOUR OPINION IS ASKED

Discuss about this article

First they ask him not according to his blog, says Rizk, not after the demonstration, not according to the documentary, which he on the Gaza Strip turned. "They all wanted to know about my life," says Rizk. You ask about his studies in Germany, the United States and in Cairo. Who knows? With whom has he spoken? Only later is also about his political work. Last time the interrogations hours, times a few minutes. The blindfold him they did not, the handcuffs rare. But if he does not so respond, how they imagine it, then put it back and grab it and do not allow that he is hinsetzt. "I think they wanted to punish me," says Rizk. What, he did not know that they say he may not.

They tortured him, but they barely even let him sleep

The human rights organization Amnesty International is on the third day of captivity a statement issued, an alarm word in the title: Torture. "Prisoners of the security services are particularly vulnerable to torture, especially when they are connected to an unknown place to be kept" as stated in the text.

Torture is not Rizk. "They have done nothing to me physically," he says. But they always repeat it to interrogations, awaken him when he sleeps. Rizk lose the sense of time. "I knew the difference between day and night no more." Once they take him to his apartment, they search in his presence, one of the few moments without a blindfold. "It was the only time that I saw a clock," says Philip, "it was four o 'clock at night." They take his computer with two hard drives, his iPod, his research documents relating to his film.

At the same time through five men in civilian and two security forces in combat suits, armed with machine guns, even the house of Rizk family. An attorney who also worked for Amnesty International, prevents the father also is taken. Rizk older sister Jeannette is it the next day for post Facebook and the international press reported. She and her family have a
global campaign organized supporters.

There are at this time neither an accusation nor a formal accusation against Philip. The family has only detours learned that he was actually arrested. Someone from the American University in Cairo, at the Philip studied security circles has made an unofficial confirmation.

"We know everything about you"

Approximately on the third day, it knows Philip Rizk is no longer they keep him a telephone handset connected to the ear. A new voice asked how his name in Latin letters to write. Again and again he says: "We know everything about you." Now they accuse him alternately to spy for Israel, or as an arms dealer for Hamas to work.

On the fourth day they make it before the election, says Rizk: Either go in an hour, free, or for the rest of his life behind bars sit. He just need to admit documents for foreign governments to have written. That they already knew. But he should say it. "I can tell them nothing other than the truth", which he replied, Rizk says, "I write only for the university, for a few newspapers and on my blog."

Shortly afterwards they blindfold him that give him cigarettes, keys, money and phone. He acknowledged. Once they connect, and his eyes
drive him home. "I did not know why they sent me so suddenly released," he says.

Much suggests that the international attention and the silent pressure of the German Embassy have contributed to it. The family had been arrested shortly after the German Ambassador to the colleagues, which is "seeking clarification" and sought consular access, as a spokeswoman of the Foreign Office in Berlin says. Philip Rizk has two passports, the Egyptian and German.

Anyone who criticizes the government of Egypt and it is doing so publicly like Rizk, risking that tough action will be against him. From bloggers reported arrested several times already, the organization "Reporters without borders", which is also a "Press Freedom Index" was published. On this state rankings Egypt ranks far behind: in 173rd place 146

The organization now calls by the Egyptian government, including the Blogger Dia al-Din Gad release on the same day as Rizk was arrested. He criticized since January 2009 in his blog
"A voice of anger," Egypt's Middle East policy. For security circles is the arrest, according Agenturberichtet been confirmed.

Philip Rizk will continue to engage the people in the Gaza Strip, in which he even two years. "My captivity should not suffer from the distraction of the people there," he says. However, the Egyptian authorities blocked his blog, as well as his e-mail mailboxes. But he did not want to leave. "Only a few days rest, I hope, together with my family." But first he plans for a Thursday afternoon press conference.