A Swedish NGO worker was prevented from boarding a flight from Egypt to Cyprus Monday. According to Cairo International Airport Authorities, Jean Eric was on a list of people banned from leaving Egypt due to their involvement in ongoing investigations into NGOs that have been the recipients of foreign funding.
“During the passport check-in process for passengers boarding the Egyptian plane headed to Larnaca, the Swedish passenger Jean Eric (65 years old), who works at the ‘Think and Work’ Organization, specializing in financing the building of churches and which is included in the investigation file concerning the foreign funded organizations, came forward and as his information was checked on the computer his name was found to be on the travel ban list,” an airport source said. “Eric was prevented from traveling and his luggage was taken off the plane, which took off without him.”
The source claimed that Eric was not arrested.
43 NGO employees – including 29 foreigners – are currently being prosecuted in Egypt for their pro-democracy activities, causing great strain on Egypt’s relations with the US.