Calls for Egypt to reveal fate of football player after 5 years forcible disappearance

We Record human rights platform has called on Egypt’s interior minister to reveal what happened to a football player who has been forcibly disappeared for five years.

Youssef Taha Ahmed, who plays for Al-Nasr Club Al-Port Said, was arrested by security forces in 2016 at a protest in front of Al-Masry Club in Port Said Governorate, according to the organisation.

The Egyptian regime has a history of persecuting footballers who speak openly about politics, the most prominent of which is Aboutrika, who was one of the most highly regarded players on the Egyptian national football team.

The Egyptian administration has accused him of being loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood and referred him to trial for alleged tax evasion.

Aboutrika often spoke out about politics including supporting the January 2011 revolution and sharing his support for Palestinians in Gaza.

READ: Palestinians thank Algeria footballer for raising Palestine flag

Security forces arrested Ceramica Cleopatra Club player Mido Jaber and forcibly disappeared him in November last year.

Jaber went missing from one of the army’s chain of hotels and campaigners called on security services to reveal his whereabouts under an Arabic hashtag which circulated on Twitter.

A video clip circulated online of Zamalek Club President Mortada Mansour announcing that Jaber and his family are Muslim Brotherhood members.

The Muslim Brotherhood have been outlawed in Egypt under the current regime and members are persecuted.

Anyone the regime wants to smear is accused of belonging to the group, even if they have openly opposed it.

In 2017 Aswan Football Club player Hamada Al-Sayed spent two years on remand before being released.

Al-Sayed was accused of joining the Sinai Province terror group.