FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2014

Contact :

(Cairo) Nicolas Shahshahani at 0020 (0) 1 28 722 56 36 (or 00 33 6 73 38 24 84), email Nicolas.shahshahani@wanadoo.fr

(Cairo) Ann Wright. 012 712 446 30 or +001-808-741-1141, email Microann@yahoo.com

(US) Alli McCracken, 860 575 5692, alli@codepink.org

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Deported from Egypt While en Route to Gaza with Women’s Delegation, No Explanation Given

Three members of an international delegation attempting to travel through Egypt to visit Gaza for International Women’s Day were denied entry and deported from Egypt on March 4 and 5. The women include Northern Ireland Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, American human right campaigner Medea Benjamin, and Northern Ireland human rights advocate Anne Patterson. Ms Benjamin, who traveled alone, was assaulted by Egyptian security officials, deported to Istanbul, Turkey, on March 4 and was hospitalized overnight in Istanbul until her flight to the US midday on March 5.  

“We were refused entry and given no reason by Egyptian authorities,” said Mairead MaGuire, “It is a sad day when Egypt refuses entry to peace people and is complicit with Israeli and US policies in continuing the blockade of Gaza.”

In response to a call from the women of Gaza, the deported delegates had planned to travel through Egypt to be a part of the CODEPINK contingent of an international coalition of 100 women traveling to Gaza to witness the hardships facing the 1.7 million residents, deliver humanitarian aid, and call attention to the need for a longer-term strategy to achieve peace and justice for Palestinians.

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