KAFR EL SHEIKH, Egypt: Tunisian authorities started investigations with 14 Egyptian fishermen who were detained on August 18, said Ahmed Nasser, the president of the fisherman's society in Egypt's Mughayzal village.The fishermen were on board the ‘Youssef el-Kelany' and were close to the territorial waters of Tunisia. They were forced by a Tunisian patrol to enter Tunisian waters, where they were arrested. Tunisian authorities have accused the fishermen of trying to sink the Tunisian ship that forced them into Tunisian waters. The fishermen began their trip on July 28 from village of Mughayzal from the governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh, heading for Malta. Nassar demanded the Egyptian Foreign Ministry intervene to secure the release of the fishermen, especially since they did not enter the territorial waters of Tunisia. They were on a fishing trip and the waves pushed them near the coast of Tunisia, he said. Three of the 14 fishermen have threatened to commit suicide if they are not released. The fishermen said they might be sentenced to prison, which made them think of suicide. They called Nassar and demanded the Egyptian Foreign Ministry rescue them from the Tunisian authorities. Tunisian authorities also detained two boats the ‘Mohamed & Hassan' carrying 15 fishermen 10 days ago.
