A journalist is reportedly among 11 Egyptians detained by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He has been identified by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) as Dr Ahmed Gafar, who works for the newspaper Al-Ittihad.
His daughter, Maryam Ahmed Gafar, said he was arrested in Dubai on 14 December but doesn't know why. She said the authorities also shut down a media-training company and seized documents from its offices.
According to a report in The National, the paper published in Abu Dhabi, the detainees belonged to a branch of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and were involved in illegal activities.
In Cairo, there was a protest outside the UAE's embassy calling for the release of the detainees, who include teachers, a pharmacist, an engineer and a businessman.
Sources: ANHRI/NZ Week/The National
