CAIRO: The Canadian government has reported that 53-year-old Abdenasir Warsame has been detained by Egyptian police since his arrival into the Egyptian capital on Sunday from Toronto. The Canadian department of foreign affairs told CBC that it was investigating the situation, but had little information to deliver, nearly 5 days after Warsame was arrested upon arrival at Cairo International Airport. Warsame, of Somali origin, was en route to Egypt in order to visit his family. His family told Canada's leading broadcaster that they had not seen Warsame and police have given no explanation as to why he was detained. Warsame's cousin Abdulkadir Musse said that the detention was shocking. “I don't think he has a speeding ticket to his name,” Musse told CBC News. “I've never heard of any problems between him and the law.” Canadian embassy officials in Cairo have told Warsame's family that they would try to contact him but so far the family's heard nothing. Relatives in Canada have asked the Canadian Somali Congress to see if it can help. But Ahmed Hussen, president of the CSC, says there's little information to go on. “All we know right now is that someone's detained and they haven't had access to a lawyer or anything like that,” said Hussen, It's the second time in two months that Somali Canadians have been detained in Egypt. Another man, who belongs to the same mosque as Warsame, was held in custody for 13 hours in Cairo before being sent back to Canada without explanation. In an email statement to CBC News on Thursday evening the department of foreign affairs said it is “aware of a Canadian citizen who has been denied entry into Egypt, not detained.” “Canadian officials in Egypt are in contact with local authorities in order to gather additional information on this case and to provide consular assistance as needed.” BM
