American Activist Aishah Schwartz Reports on Return of Al-Jazeera Correspondent Detained in Cairo

Feb. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- (EGYPT) At approximately 5:15PM Egypt-time Al-Jazeera English correspondent, Ayman Mohyeldin returned to live television via Cairo reporting on his February 6 detainment by the Egyptian military as he was reporting from Tahrir Square.

Appearing visibly tired and somewhat grim, Ayman, in describing his approximate 9-hour detainment, said that when he was approached by military officers he had not initially been identified as being from Al-Jazeera.

In commenting on his treatment in detention, Ayman said he had been handcuffed with plastic handcuffs, blind-folded, and left to sit on the concrete floor for nearly 5-hrs. Officers asked him 'why he didn't return to the United States where he came from'; 'why was he trying to portray a negative image of Egypt', and more, adding that he had been interrogated numerous times.

Ayman also indicated that quick intervention when word of his detention broke was crucial to his release, stating that this kept him from transferred to Military Intelligence officers for further interrogation.

When asked about the treatment of others in the detention area, Ayman reported that he saw a Reuters cameraman from Gaza and a NYTimes reporter, the latter being questioned briefly and immediately released.

Others in detention were protesters from inside Tahrir Square. Many had lost some form of identification or had been detained for reasons indicating military officers were not happy with  their behavior; one had been detained for having a pocket knife.

Many of the detainees had been dealt with in a very aggressive manner, Ayman continued, stating they had been dealt with as if being prisoners of war shown no mercy; kicked in the head and threatened with taser guns. Many had shirts removed and had been visibly whipped or slapped.

Ayman further indicated that upon release, himself included, all detainees were required to sign a document saying they would not return to Tahrir Square unless they had military permission or had obtained some kind of proper identification or permission to return.

Continuing with his story, Ayman stated that clearly anyone carrying foreign i.d. is subject to harassment and that journalists are moving about doing their best to conceal their identity unless specifically asked for it.

I've seen Ayman on camera for days now, and today, post-detainment, he looked visibly tired and suffice it to say, somewhat stressed out. But it was fantastic to see him on the air again.

All the best to you Ayman; in my book you are an outstanding reporter.

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Aishah Schwartz, a Muslim American, is founder and director of the 2006 established Washington, D.C.-based Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) and a retired 17-year litigation legal assistant. She is also a published freelance non-fiction writer/journalist and internationally renowned human rights activist with a focus on the rights of Muslim women and the plight of the Palestinian people affected by the Israeli imposed illegal embargo on Gaza. Full biography here: http://aishahsjourney.blogspot.com/2010/06/aishah-schwartz-american-muslim-revert.html

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Established in 2006, MWA is an internationally-based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and the Islamic faith.