Tunisian authorities have detained 28 Egyptian fishermen from Burg Megheizal village in Kafr al-Sheikh and Rashid in Beheira for infiltrating its waters. Strong winds forced the boat into Tunisian waters during a fishing trip to Malta, sources said.
One villager said he had received a phone call from a relative who was among those apprehended, according to the head of Burg Megeizal’s local fisherman care association Ahmed Nassar.
Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Mohamed Abdel Hakam said the Egyptian embassy in Tunisia is stepping up communication with Tunisian authorities in an effort to release the detained sailors. The embassy has sent a delegation to the Sfax port to check on the conditions of those apprehended, Abdel Hakam added.
Abdel Hakam said the fishermen had been detained on 7 October for illegal fishing.
Egyptian authorities on Saturday released and sent home 14 supporters of Tunisian Esperance arrested for rioting and assaulting security officers during an Africa champions league match with Egyptian Al-Ahly last Sunday.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
