CAIRO: The Italian authorities on Thursday arrested 35 Egyptian illegal immigrants near Italy`s northern shores, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday. A statement issued by the Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians abroad Mohamed Abdel-Hakam said that the Italian Authorities arrested 35 Egyptians on Thursday, including dozens from Luxor and arrested another group on a ship near Siracusa carrying 41 Egyptians, adding that the number of Egyptians arrested has reached 76. Abdel-Hakam noted that the Italian Authorities agreed on releasing and deporting the 76 Egyptians without trial, in the framework of the good relations between the two countries, quoting officials from the Egyptian Embassy in Rome as saying that they “expect the illegal immigrants to arrive in Egypt this Saturday.” The Italian government has repeatedly released and deported Egyptians without holding trial in accordance with requests from international human rights and refugee groups. BM
