CAIRO: Swedish journalist Per Bjorklund is to be deported from Egypt after his detention upon arrival early Tuesday morning in the country’s second such deportation in September. According to reports from those speaking with Bjorklund during the ordeal, upon arriving he was told that “his name [was] on the computer” telling airport security the Swede was not to be allowed into Egypt, a country he was living and working.

The Swedish Embassy reported that they do not know exactly where their citizen is, but are speaking with local authorities to get up-to-date information.

The last the embassy said was that Bjorklund was still at the airport awaiting his deportation after being designated a “persona non grata” by the Egyptian government. The embassy says this means he will be deported, but when and how are still unknown.

The likely reason for his continued detention in the airport is due to the next Czech Airlines flight to Prague is not scheduled until October 1.

The situation is similar to American citizen Travis Randall, who was detained for nearly 12 hours earlier this month before being barred from entering Egypt and sent back to London. At the time, Randall was also told that his name was on a list of persons not allowed to enter the North African nation.

Hossam al-Hamalawy, a leading Egyptian blogger, workers advocate and prominent journalist, wrote that he spoke with Bjorklund early on Tuesday morning, when the Swedish journalist told him that he was being deported.

“Per is in some room at the airport, where there are other people, and he awaits an explanation from the police,” Hamalawy wrote on his Arabawy blog.

He would not receive a proper explanation before being told he was to return to Prague on the next flight.

“Per has been one of the most active foreign journalists (if not the most active) in covering the Egyptian strike wave and human rights abuses, stringing for a number of Swedish publications as well as activist websites like the Electronic Intifada,” Hamalawy added.

Early on Tuesday, the interior ministry was unavailable for comment on the situation when approached by Bikya Masr for details and a reason for Bjorklund’s deportation.

According to the Swede’s blog, “Egypt and beyond,” he says that he is “a freelance journalist currently based in Cairo. Covering the daily struggles for another Egypt and another Middle East, that are too often made invisible in the narratives of mainstream media.”

His most recent post, “‘Historic verdict’ in favour of Tanta labour leaders,” shows his unwavering commitment to covering the ongoing workers’ strikes that have erupted across Egypt in recent years. But, it appears it has been the major cause for the government’s dissatisfaction and Tuesday’s deportation.

Egyptian activists were up-in-arms over the deportation, who scrambled to find lawyers to help Bjorklund gain entrance into the country. None would be found in the early morning hours and by 5 a.m. Bjorklund’s phone was switched off, reported Hamalawy.

BM

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