Sudan reportedly re-arrests Egyptian fishermen accused of espionage
July 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities have reportedly backtracked on their decision to free 101 Egyptian fishermen who have been detained since last April on charges of espionage and trespassing territorial waters.
On Friday however, the government filed an appeal with the court to block their release which was granted.
Taha Sheraidy, head of fishermen union in Dakahlia province said that on Friday night.Sudanese intelligence appealed the prosecutors’ decision to drop the charges.
Sheraidy said the fishermen were taken into custody again after their arrival at Osave port to retrieve their boats in preparation for their departure.
The President of the Cooperative Union of Water Wealth in Egypt Mohammed al-Feki described the decision as political given the fact that today is a public holiday in which courts do not operate.
Feki said the union does not want to raise the matter before the international community, especially since Egypt is seeking to support the bilateral relations between the two countries, stressing that the fishermen did not commit any crime and that the charge of espionage is illogical.
He said the fishermen were working per the joint cooperation agreement with Eritrea for fishing in their territorial waters and were arrested during their crossing of the Red Sea.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Friday confirmed Sudan’s decision to re-arrest the fishermen.
“There have been contacts with Sudanese authorities to identify the reasons behind the retraction and the cancellation of the release decision,” foreign ministry’s spokesperson Badr Abdel-Aty told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
Sources say that Sudanese authorities want 24 Sudanese traditional miners who unknowingly crossed the borders in search for gold to be released in return for freeing the fishermen.
(ST)