Scared to do anything in Egypt

[DJKeefy]

Posted: by Jez C Self - 30th March 2016 7:04am (facebook)

I was walking along with my camera, as I have been doing for four years.

I went to get the minibus home from Dahar when this odd looking guy; much like an extra in Starsky and Hutch said "Delete your photos, give me your camera"

Naturally I said no.

I got on the bus and he started again with me still saying no and will somebody call the police!

He said he was the police and everyone in Egypt then told me to get off the bus.

I was then locked in another minibus until the real police came.

They looked at my photos and took me to the police station.

They kept telling me that I couldn't take ANY photos in Egypt without asking permission first. This also included the permission of buildings and flowers!!!

The chief of police was a lot nicer, me made me a cup of tea and gave me a cigarette.

My wife and baby had to get a taxi to the police station with my passport.

The chief said to me "you are a good man and you will be home in an hour, we just have to check your passport with the National Security Office. He said to wait in reception.

I'm in reception waiting when two new police come up to me with my camera.

They looked again at my photos and then say "come" They tell me "no English, not talk"

I am ushered out of the police station and told to get in the back of a Police pickup truck and told to sit on an old tyre. I have no idea what is happening.

I am now at the NSO and the British consulate has turned up. He goes into the main office to see the boss of the NSO.
After an hour, I am told to go in.

The boss says to me I am free to go but not to take photos ever again in Egypt.

I told him the photography laws in Egypt and he said that I was right but still not to take anymore photos, ever.

"I am keeping your passport, comeback tomorrow and get your visa"

Four hours today and they have lost my passport. The boss man has gone to the airport, he is here now, he is on his way from the airport, we will send someone to the airport to get his office key and get your passport.

There is no point in anyone getting my passport as he has to sign it and now everyone has gone home.

The above is the short version.

Source: International Visa Group Egypt (facebook)

[Major Thom]

Maybe he had been taking pictures around sensitive buildings. I know it's an odd and strange story, Surely he had the right to ask for identification when approached? Otherwise anyone could say he was police or security.

[newcastle]

Maybe he had been taking pictures around sensitive buildings. I know it's an odd and strange story, Surely he had the right to ask for identification when approached? Otherwise anyone could say he was police or security.

It's now obvious that you've just arrived in Egypt from another planet.

[Major Thom]

So are you saying civilians have NO rights at all?

[newcastle]

Are we talking theory.....or practice?

[Glyphdoctor]

Taking photos has always been a sensitive matter and it is has always been illegal to take photos of certain things, like the bridges over the Nile, for obvious reasons of national security.

I had a colleague who was teaching photography at AUC 15 years ago, Egyptian students. They had a HELL of a time taking the photos they needed to take for the class, because the police would stop them any time they whipped out a camera in public.

I googled this guy's name and he seems to be a professional photographer, so if he has been here for several years as he claims, I find it hard to believe this came as any surprise to him or that he didn't know any better.

[HEPZIBAH]

Taking photos has always been a sensitive matter and it is has always been illegal to take photos of certain things, like the bridges over the Nile, for obvious reasons of national security.

I first came across laws like this in the 80's and in one country, Niger I think we were, witnessed one of our group having their camera seized and the film removed and destroyed. The crime - taking a photograph of some unusual street lighting.

However, these laws were made in an age before spy in the sky camera's (well I'm sure there may have been some around but not like now and certainly they would only have been available to military and national security forces), the internet, mobile phones, and Google Earth. Now, you can see just about everything from the comfort of your own home, so bridges, off mainline railway stations, unusual installations etc are now visible to all.

I am not suggesting breaking the law in any given country, but unfortunately many laws are outdated. Of course, keeping old laws such as some of those connected to photography, does mean that police and security forces can implement them to their favour in extreme cases, but I would imagine the extreme cases are the exception rather than the rule.

[newcastle]

This guy - Jez C Self - has a history of bureaucratic issues with visas, his daughter's birth certificate etc. He posted it over several Hurghada forums.

His latest episode may be a coincidence. Photography is a sensitive issue.

Or it may make you think twice before blurting your experiences all over the Internet.

[carrie]

I remember when I first came there were warnings all over the airport not to take photo's there, one guy did and missed his plane.

[Dusak]

This guy - Jez C Self - has a history of bureaucratic issues with visas, his daughter's birth certificate etc. He posted it over several Hurghada forums.

His latest episode may be a coincidence. Photography is a sensitive issue.

Or it may make you think twice before blurting your experiences all over the Internet.

I think that advice comes a little late for some of us.

[Major Thom]

My daughter, husband and grandson were coming to Luxor this year, but they saw a program on their TV and said it looked to be a police and Military State, where everyone was looked upon has being inferior and a thief, she said I am not subjecting my son to that. She went on to say that even if they were given free travel they would not come. We have tried and tried to get her to visit us, but she is just not interested. She has now sited insecure airports has another put of, she and her husband had been watching the news were they live, and it reported how civilians at airports are asking 50 le to get people through security and check in fast and not have to wait. If these things are being broadcast the other side of the world, what chance is there to get the Country out of the doldrums. I think we have to give up all hope of seeing her and her family here. A shame because she will never know what she is missing. How, I don't know because we have said nothing, but she also knows of visa problems and has she describes it (the threat to those who have purchased property in Egypt) She thinks Egypt has financial problems but, also says they are making things hard for themselves.

[carrie]

Well if your daughter etc. believe what they see and read in the media rather than their Father well so be it. I am sure that neither you nor your wife would want them to come here to visit you if you didn't think it was safe for them.
Sorry MT you must be both very disappointed.
You'll just have to make do with your visit to Aussie land.

[Jayway]

So, your daughter refuses to come to Egypt. Was she adopted ?? because she seems to have common sense - - -

[Dusak]

I'd close the door on this one if I were you MT.

[Major Thom]

My point is "What on earth is being broadcast overseas that we never see here" believe you me Carrie both me and my wife have really tried, it would be great to take them around the historic sites on a 3 day cruise, and show them how mistaken they are. But it goes to show how people believe the media and not the people that live here. What chance have you got to increase tourism, the lifeline of many local people.

It's the old saying you can take a horse to water but you cannot make him drink!

[newcastle]

It's not often I'm able to say this MT, but you're right.

The major reason for the downturn in tourism is the negative perception gained from the media portrayal of the country combined with a lack of enthusiasm in travel companies to counter it.

People who know Egypt, who've been here before, don't seem to be deterred but newcomers?. ......definitely in decline.

[newcastle]

It's not often I'm able to say this MT, but you're right.

The major reason for the downturn in tourism is the negative perception gained from the media portrayal of the country combined with a lack of enthusiasm in travel companies to counter it.

People who know Egypt, who've been here before, don't seem to be deterred but newcomers?. ......definitely in decline.

[Major Thom]

It's hard I Know but goodness knows what the media is painting Egypt, many items of media reporting we will never know.

[BENNU]

Relatives who after all these years, finally decided to visit me in Luxor, have all backed out. It is too dangerous. When they told friends and collegues that they were planning a trip to Egypt, everyone thought that they were crazy to even think of going to such a war zone.

I am talking about relatives who have travelled or even worked and lived with their then small children in parts of the world where they knew that there was corruption, crime, malaria and other kinds of danger. The traffic and passport police would try setting you up for bribes and threaten to arrest you for nothing all the time. I have certainly experienced this a lot in other countries, including Spain during Franco's regime, when tourists would flock there.

Every tourist that I have met on West Bank have fully enjoyed their trip and Egyptair passengers that I have seen in Luxor and Cairo Departure halls have been dreaming of going back soon.