Egyptian fishermen tangled in Egypt-Sudan fray
More than a hundred Egyptian fishermen were arrested four months ago by the Sudanese navy, released and then arrested again in what some see as a Sudanese bid to pressure Egypt to release 24 Sudanese nationals.
CAIRO — Since April 7, the Sudanese state has held 101 Egyptian fishermen from the fishing boats Hoda Al-Rahman, Princess Malak and Princess Mariam. The fishermen were on their way to Eritrea to fish when the Sudanese navy arrested them April 7 for invading Sudanese territorial waters and fishing without a permit. One elderly man was excluded from the case, while six youths were deported to Cairo.
On April 12, a Sudanese court fined each crew member arrested 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($638) and sentenced them to two months in prison. Each captain was penalized 10,000 pounds ($1,277) and six months in prison.
The boats' owners, who were not on board, hired Sudanese attorney Intisar Suleiman, who appealed against the court’s judgment and won an acquittal July 23. The three retained boats were also released.
That day, the fishermen were transported from Port Sudan prison to Osif Port, where the three boats were held. As the Egyptians were about to board, the Sudanese authorities intervened again, arrested and detained them until the next morning, July 24. They were taken back to Port Sudan prison, where they arrived at 9 a.m. sharp.
