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German protests grow over detention of Egyptian journalist German protests grow over detention of Egyptian journalist
(35 minutes later)
Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mansour has spent a second night in police custody in Germany as uncertainty continued following his arrest at Berlin’s Tegel airport on an Egyptian warrant.Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mansour has spent a second night in police custody in Germany as uncertainty continued following his arrest at Berlin’s Tegel airport on an Egyptian warrant.
Mansour’s lawyer in Berlin, Fazli Altin, told the DPA news agency that his client faces an extradition hearing on Monday. However, Tobias Kaehne, spokesman for the Berlin court, said he knew nothing of any hearing and would only confirm that Mansour was being held while Berlin state prosecutors decide whether or not to apply for an extradition warrant from the court. Mansour’s lawyer in Berlin, Fazli Altin, told the DPA news agency that his client faces an extradition hearing on Monday. However, Tobias Kaehne, spokesman for the Berlin court, said he knew nothing of any hearing and would only confirm that Mansour, who has dual Egyptian and British citizenship, was being held while Berlin state prosecutors decide whether or not to apply for an extradition warrant.
While the Berlin court will have the task of deciding what to do with Mansour, the German government, specifically the foreign ministry and the justice ministry, will likely be consulted given the politically sensitive nature of the case.While the Berlin court will have the task of deciding what to do with Mansour, the German government, specifically the foreign ministry and the justice ministry, will likely be consulted given the politically sensitive nature of the case.
Mansour, a senior journalist with al-Jazeera, was detained while attempting to board a flight to Doha on Saturday. He was convicted in absentia in 2014 of torturing a lawyer in Tahrir Square in 2011, but rejected the charges, calling them “a flimsy attempt at character assassination”. The arrest came two weeks after the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, made a state visit to Berlin. A foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday that no one would be extradited from Germany if they faced the death penalty. “I don’t think one can say this loudly enough: Of course, nobody will be extradited from Germany who risks being sentenced to death abroad,” Martin Schaefer told a news conference.
Mansour, a senior journalist with al-Jazeera, was convicted in absentia in 2014 of torturing a lawyer in Tahrir Square in 2011 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He rejected the charges, calling them “a flimsy attempt at character assassination”.
Mansour was detained while attempting to board a flight to Doha on Saturday – two weeks after the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, made a state visit to Berlin.
Guido Steinberg, a political analyst interviewed by Mansour during his visit to Berlin, expressed concern and surprise that the German government had not intervened on his behalf. “As far as I know, the German government could intervene,” he told the Guardian. “And I’m very surprised that it hasn’t happened yet. Mr Mansour needs to be set free, and an official apology is necessary I think.”Guido Steinberg, a political analyst interviewed by Mansour during his visit to Berlin, expressed concern and surprise that the German government had not intervened on his behalf. “As far as I know, the German government could intervene,” he told the Guardian. “And I’m very surprised that it hasn’t happened yet. Mr Mansour needs to be set free, and an official apology is necessary I think.”
Related: Al-Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour held in Germany on Egyptian warrantRelated: Al-Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour held in Germany on Egyptian warrant
There were a number of protests against Mansour’s potential extradition on Sunday and Monday morning. A group calling itself the German-Egyptian Union for Democracy gathered around 100 protesters outside the Berlin jail where he is being detained. They held signs which read: “Freedom for Ahmed Mansour. Freedom for Egypt. Freedom for Journalists.”There were a number of protests against Mansour’s potential extradition on Sunday and Monday morning. A group calling itself the German-Egyptian Union for Democracy gathered around 100 protesters outside the Berlin jail where he is being detained. They held signs which read: “Freedom for Ahmed Mansour. Freedom for Egypt. Freedom for Journalists.”
MPs across all of Germany’s main political parties have also voiced concern. Among the most outspoken has been the opposition Green party’s Franziska Brantner, who said in a statement on her website: “The Berlin judiciary should under no circumstances allow itself to become a willing tool of the capricious regime in Cairo.”MPs across all of Germany’s main political parties have also voiced concern. Among the most outspoken has been the opposition Green party’s Franziska Brantner, who said in a statement on her website: “The Berlin judiciary should under no circumstances allow itself to become a willing tool of the capricious regime in Cairo.”
MPs from the coalition government parties have also protested. Rolf Mützenich, deputy parliamentary leader of the Social Democratic party, told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper: “The Egyptian judiciary works by political guidelines. It is anything but independent. That needs to be taken into consideration.”MPs from the coalition government parties have also protested. Rolf Mützenich, deputy parliamentary leader of the Social Democratic party, told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper: “The Egyptian judiciary works by political guidelines. It is anything but independent. That needs to be taken into consideration.”
Philipp Mißfelder, foreign policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union, said: “I think deportations and extraditions to countries that have the death penalty are very problematic.”Philipp Mißfelder, foreign policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union, said: “I think deportations and extraditions to countries that have the death penalty are very problematic.”
The Berlin judiciary should under no circumstances allow itself to become a willing tool of Cairo's capricious regimeThe Berlin judiciary should under no circumstances allow itself to become a willing tool of Cairo's capricious regime
Egypt accuses both Qatar and al-Jazeera of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, which was branded a terrorist organisation after the military deposed the president, Mohamed Morsi, in 2013. Three journalists with al-Jazeera English spent more than 400 days in prison following their arrest in Cairo in late 2013. The trial was regarded internationally as a farce.Egypt accuses both Qatar and al-Jazeera of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, which was branded a terrorist organisation after the military deposed the president, Mohamed Morsi, in 2013. Three journalists with al-Jazeera English spent more than 400 days in prison following their arrest in Cairo in late 2013. The trial was regarded internationally as a farce.
Steinberg, from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs thinktank, suggested three reasons why Germany is attempting to maintain a good relationship with the Egyptian government – one of the themes of Mansour’s latest broadcast. “Firstly, the German government sees Sisi as providing stability – which I think is nonsense – then, Israel wants Germany to support Egypt, and thirdly there are commercial affairs. You probably heard about the Siemens deal.”Steinberg, from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs thinktank, suggested three reasons why Germany is attempting to maintain a good relationship with the Egyptian government – one of the themes of Mansour’s latest broadcast. “Firstly, the German government sees Sisi as providing stability – which I think is nonsense – then, Israel wants Germany to support Egypt, and thirdly there are commercial affairs. You probably heard about the Siemens deal.”
Steinberg was referring to a multibillion-euro power turbine deal that the German engineering multinational sealed with the Egyptian government in the week of Sisi’s visit.Steinberg was referring to a multibillion-euro power turbine deal that the German engineering multinational sealed with the Egyptian government in the week of Sisi’s visit.