Students Talk About Arrests and Police at Their Doors

There is a university email listing called Cairo Scholars in Egypt. On this list people post jobs, apt rentals, traveling questions, etc.

Here are some postings I saw today on "Secret Police" searching foreigners apartments and foreigners being arrested.

Date: Sun, Feb 6, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Subject: Please pass on to Cairo Scholars: Urgent

State security were knocking (vigorously) on my door and the doors of my neighbours today. I didn't open, nor did my neighbours.

My bawab (building door man) told a Egyptian living in the building that they are state security. We believe they will return tomorrow.

They are checking the rented apartments for foreigners. There were no army with them.

... I'm even too nervous to send this directly from my email.
Thank you very much for your help.
Anonymous
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date Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 11:58 AM
subject [Cairo Scholars] Foreigners arrested

Hello CS,

I would like to know if it is true that in the last days many foreigners' not journalists- were arrested for no real reason but just to intimidate them.
XXXXX



date Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 12:22 PM
subject RE: [Cairo Scholars] Foreigners arrested

Hello CS,

This is, unfortunately, true. I have several examples from friends and friends of friends who have been arrested and intimidated. Some where on their way to the demonstrations and harrased by people of Mubarak.

But even yesterday a friend of a friend got in problems in Sayyida Zaynab, she was in a taxi to pick up her friend, and was stopped and pulled out of the taxi. After a few hours, they released her.

I live in downtown, Saad Zaghloul, and haven't left my house for three days now. Unbelievable to live this way, even afraid to walk my dog and in big contrast with until four days ago, feeling Cairo is one of the safest places in the world.

Let's hope these 'manhunts' after foreigners (and journalists!) are just a temporary result of the violence of Wednesday and Thursday.

Be careful everybody!

Best,
XXXX

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date Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 12:30 PM
subject Re: [Cairo Scholars] Foreigners arrested

I was arrested 4 a few hours too for no real reason...the official one is curfew violation but it happened only because they stopped me for checking my passport and the time came! After that I went from an army station to another, stayed a few hours blindfolded till they released me! Many ppl were with me and so many foreigners! Very bad experience!