Galloway refused entry to Egypt

[T_i_B]

So jumping around in a red leotard and prenteding to be a cat on Celebrity Big Brother are now "grounds of national security"? :rofl:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4680628.stm

MP George Galloway has been barred from entering Egypt by security officials.

He had flown to the Middle East after being invited to take part in an event against the war in Iraq, his Respect party said.

The politician left the UK on Friday night but was stopped and detained all night in a cell with several others, according to his spokesman.

The Bethnal Green and Bow MP was detained "on grounds of national security" on arrival at Cairo airport. He had travelled to Egypt to give evidence at a "mock trial" of Tony Blair and US President George Bush.

[bananas]

1. Now he knows how Kissinger felt.

[MrPrax]

2. Good...

Hell we can't figure out what this clown is up to anymore, so why should Egypt take a chance...he's not Egyptian and he has NO more credibility in the West with the people that count...

[fakeshemp]

3. Well...

Being stuck for the night in a confined space with a bunch of people he doesn't know shouldn't present too much of a shock to him by this point...

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Detained Galloway can enter Egypt

Outspoken Respect MP George Galloway has finally been allowed into Egypt after being detained and spending the night in a cell.
...
"Just before he was about to board a plane back to England the Egyptian government appeared to change its mind that Galloway was a 'national security threat' and allowed him in," he said.

However, his office have still been unable to contact him to confirm his situation, he added.

The Foreign Office said as "far as it was aware" Mr Galloway was now being allowed into Egypt.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4680628.stm

Weird story - what was going on?

[Judi Lynn]

5. Surprised to see the BBC writer could take the time or space to

refer to his tv appearance. That's something we're used to seeing in the States, eternal reference to events, no matter how timeworn, or tedious, which they hope will diminish a politician's image. Here's another article which confirms he's been "sprung:"

Sat 4 Feb 2006

Respect MP George Galloway has been allowed to enter Egypt to attend an anti-war event, said the Foreign Office.

The politician had been barred overnight by security officials at Cairo International airport and left waiting in a cell without food or water for a return flight home, his political party said.


But he has now been granted permission to continue his visit and is believed to have left the airport, said a Foreign Office spokeswoman.

The politician flew to the Middle East after being invited to take part in an event against the war in Iraq organised by Egyptian campaigners.
(snip/...)

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=182402006Sat 4 Feb 2006

[fakeshemp]

7. His appearance on BB has been all over the UK news for weeks

I tend think it would have seemed odd, even remiss to not mention it. Personally, I dont think Galloway needs anyone elses help when it comes to diminishing his own image.

[T_i_B]

12. I hate to be the one to break this to you...

...but his appearance in Celebrity Big Brother is what Galloway is most famous for these days, not his political acheivements.

And it was Galloway's own decision to enter the Big Brother house.

[Mizmoon]

13. It's such a shame

The only man who should be legally allowed to wear a red leotard in public is Barishnikov.

[daleo]

6. I think this is the key (from your BBC link)

"He had traveled to Egypt to give evidence at a "mock trial" of Tony Blair and US President George Bush.

The spokesman alleged that the Egyptian authorities waited until the 'trial' was over before allowing him to enter and accused them of "subterfuge"."

The Egyptians were probably playing a fine line on this, keeping U.S./U.K. interests in mind, but also mindful of their own population's anti-war feelings. Thus, they delayed, but eventually let him in once the point was moot.

[onager]

10. It wasn't just Bush and Blair...

That mock trial had THREE defendants: Bush, Blair and Ariel Sharon.

It was front-page news for the Egyptian GAZETTE today. The article was accompanied by a color photo of the three behind bars and wire fencing. (I'm currently in Alexandria, Egypt on a long-term job assignment.)

Some highlights from the GAZETTE article, by their staff writer Hala Fawzy:

US President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were 'tried' in absentia in Cairo and found guilty on war crimes charges.

Ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahitmir Mohammed...acted as head of the court in the two-day mock trial which ended yesterday...

"This is a symbolic trial that reflects something deeper and bigger that will be communicated to the whole world," Stanley L. Cohen, a US lawyer of Jewish origin told this paper.

Cohen, who is a member of the General Prosecution, believes he has a personal obligation to his traditions, culture and family to defend the right of humanity to co-exist in peace and justice.

"Israel has caused tremendous suffering to many nations including Israelis themselves," said Cohen sadly, emphasizing that before a Jewish citizen he is a human being.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. .

:rofl:

[Colorado Blue]

9. I dunno. I thought the cat dance was pretty - amazing.

BWAHAHAH.

[go west young man]

11. I'll have to agree with you there. Galloway has some

pretty wild tricks for gaining support. He has mine. I'm from East London myself but now live in the states. People I know back home say they love Galloway and what he gets up to. He stirs the pot. Judging from a few responses here at DU though I would guess that the powers that be are having an effect on diminishing support him. Galloway has done a lot for us on the left this past year we should be offering support as he has helped expose the hypocrisy of the U.S. Govt and Tony Blair.

[pinniped]

14. We just call him the general.

.