Egypt makes Gaza German blogger free.

Four days were Egyptian security forces, the German-Egyptian student Philip Rizk at an unknown location caught. Now the 26-year-old again - by his sister planned protests are still taking place.

 

He was dragged off and hidden, his apartment was searched and his family threatened. Now the nightmare being over. The German-Egyptian student and blogger Philip Rizk is free again. It informed his sister Jeannette ONLINE blogs on early Wednesday morning. Also in the Facebook group in which they are regularly on the development of the case, writes, reads: "Philip is out. It is safe and with his family."

Jeannette Rizk
Blogger Rizk: On the night released

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry in Berlin confirmed blogs ONLINE, Rizk that the previous night had been released. Several micro-bloggers had previously reported on Twitter, including the user who first reported the arrest had Rizk.

According to the Foreign Office had the German embassy in Cairo after the arrest turned Rizk and "tried to clarify." You will Rizk and his family continue to consular assistance when it is desired.

Thus ends for the family of Philip Rizk a time of fear. Rizk, 26, both the German and the Egyptian Passport holders, was on the night of last Friday to Saturday
Egyptian security forces arrested when he returned a demonstration. His family was not where he was locked up why.

Then, in the night from Sunday to Monday, security forces searched the house of Rizk family. "Five men in civilian standing in front of the door," says Jeannette Rizk, sister, "two in Kampfänzügen and machine guns." They were in search of evidence against Philip had presumed them. The security forces found nothing incriminating, but then wanted to bring the father to ask him. Rallied Only a lawyer who also worked for Amnesty International, was able to prevent.

"I suspect, however, that all this was just a Ablenkungsmaneuver," says Rizk blogs Jaennette ONLINE, at the same time, her apartment and her brother have been screened. Philips laptop if they had taken away his iPod, their video camera and two hard drives of Jeannette, then their complete computer backup, and a documentary, as the thesis on the lives of women in Cairo had rotated.

Those who criticized the Egyptian government, lives dangerously

Philip Rizk operates
the blog "tabulagaza". It publishes reports on Palestinian refugees and the Gaza Strip. The topic has long been employed him: he has himself in the Gaza Strip and lived the life of a documentary filmed there. He also supported journalists who cover the spot itself is a picture of the situation wanted, and helped, medicines to Gaza to bring. At the demonstration last Friday, it asked that the Egyptian government the Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip will open - open criticism of Egypt's Middle East policy.

Officially, there was no indictment and no charges against Rizk. But several reports have confirmed that Egyptian security official circles that Rizk because of his political engagement was held. The AFP news agency refers to Egyptian authorities, the New York Times quotes one from the General Innenministeriumium who does not want to be named: "It all happened under the Egyptian law. Please contact the Office of the Attorney General."

The crackdown by the security forces is not unusual. Those who are politically active in Egypt, and expresses criticism, lives dangerously. Since 1981, there is the state of emergency. This allows the government of President Husni Mubarak and the security apparatus, a suspect at any time and without any specific allegation arrest. Human rights organizations estimate the number of political prisoners to about 10,000.

For security circles in Cairo was reported on Tuesday, except Rizk was in the past few days, another blogger has been arrested on the Internet solidarity with the Palestinians and called the Egyptian Middle East policy was criticized. He hot Dia al-Din Gad and is already on Friday at his home in the province Gharbija, northwest of Cairo, had been arrested.

According to the Rizk family had domestic intelligence SSI Philip arrested. For prisoners of this authority is the danger to be tortured, according to Amnesty International is particularly high when it is isolated and unknown places to hide. Whether the student Rizk was tortured, is not known. The family wants to express in the afternoon.

Quick family organized a worldwide campaign

Since the arrest, the Rizk quickly become communication professionals. The family brought an impressive Internet campaign roles and mobilized world support. His 29-year-old sister was
Spokesperson for the family, sent photos of their abducted brother and organized demonstrations. The Facebook group "Support and Prayer for the safe release of Philip Rizk" in a few days grew to 6500 members. About Twitter spread from the arrest to release any news around the world, Flickr User
Slideshows tinkered with images of solidarity rallies. In blogs and social networks calls for courses on-line petitions.

The excitement in the international network is not surprising, when the biography of Philip Rizk knows. He is a kind of globalized activist: born in Cyprus, raised in Cairo, where he visited the German school. His father, who runs a small publishing house, came from Egypt, his mother from Germany.

In order to study philosophy, Philip went for a semester in Freiburg, and then with a scholarship in the USA, Wheaton. Now he works on his master's work at the American University in Cairo, he is also dealing with the Gaza conflict. He speaks fluent English, Arabic and German.

For Thursday 27 Birthday of her brother, plans Jeannette Rizk solidarity rallies in several major cities, including Cairo and Berlin. Philip himself there after his release that all the protests take place as planned, it says in Facebook. The demonstrations, however, should be re: Because he no longer sits behind bars, should be held to establish its exemption to draw attention to the Gaza Strip go.