Maravi

Immigration probes Egyptian embassy

Immigration probes Egyptian embassy
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 31 May 2011, 07:30 CAT

THE Immigration Department is investigating the Egyptian embassy over suspected fraudulent replacement of photos of an applicant for a work permit. But Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Salah El-Sadek dismissed the allegations of replacement of the applicant’s photos and denied claims that he was persecuting Egyptians that supported their country’s January 25 revolution.

According to a letter dated May 20, 2011 from the Immigration Department risk management and compliance unit and signed by J. Shula, the department was investigating the case in which an Egyptian government-assigned teacher had his photos on the work permit irregularly replaced.

“RE: Suspected fraudulent replacement of photos by an official from Egyptian embassy. Reference is made to your minute dated 11th May, 2011 regarding the above captioned matter of Mr Ashraf Fawzy Elbahlul whose photos at Immigration Headquarters were substituted by an official from the Egyptian Embassy,” stated Shula in her letter to Egyptian Association of Zambia vice chairman Dr Hassan Fadda.

“I wish to inform you that the same is under investigation and the outcome will be communicated to you accordingly.”

In his letter dated May 18, 2011 to the Immigration Department, Dr Fadda demanded an explanation on the change of photos on the work permit of Elbahlul, an Arabic teacher at Altaqua Islamic School.

“This is for the safety of the Egyptians in Zambia,” Dr Fadda stated.
Dr Fadda, who is also a member of Egypt’s opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood, accused Ambassador El-Sadek of being anti-Egyptian revolution and ‘persecuting’ his nationals in Zambia.

He said Ambassador El-Sadek was a supporter of Egypt’s ousted president Hosni Mubarak and was frustrating the efforts of the new regime.
Dr Fadda said his association had written to the Egyptian Prime Minister and Muslim Brotherhood headquarters to complain about the conduct of Ambassador El-Sadek.

And Elbahlul said although he was not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, he would be proud to be part of the grouping, adding that he was being harassed because of his association with members of the opposition team.

But Ambassador El-Sadek said Dr Fadda was representing himself and not the Egyptian community in Zambia and denied allegations that he was opposed to the revolution.

“How come the new government has not recalled me if I am against the revolution? I am not against the revolution,” Ambassador El-Sadek said. “Dr Fadda doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know that my family participated in that revolution.”

He said it was not true that he or the embassy was persecuting Elbahlul.
Ambassador El-Sadek said Elbahlul had been recalled by the institute that sent him to Zambia and not him as ambassador.

Labels: EGYPT, IMMIGRATION

posted by MrK @ 5:07 PM