Irish Gaza activists among 23 people currently under police escort in Egypt

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Monday December 28, 2009 12:31 by Fintan Lane - IPSC media officer

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has just heard that Zoe Lawlor from Limerick and Hilary Minch from Dublin, both IPSC members, were among 23 Gaza solidarity activists taken off a bus to al Areish today by Egyptian police. Those detained are currently being brought back to Cairo under police escort. The police are holding their passports.

The 23 activists include two Irish, 15 Germans, two Palestinians, two Turks and three Americans. All were intending to participate in the 'Gaza Freedom March' on 31 December. The Egyptian government has systemically harassed the international delegates to the march since their arrival in Egypt and is refusing to allow them to cross into Gaza.

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign condemns today's disgraceful action by the Egyptian authorites, and demands that Hilary Minch and Zoe Lawlor, along with their colleagues, be released immediately from detention with their passports returned. This is an outrageous attempt to intimidate human rights activists.

For further information, phone Fintan Lane (IPSC media officer) at 087 1258325.