Egypt demands release of detained citizen and embassy protection in Netherlands

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a telephone call with Dutch Foreign Minister Dick Berendsen to demand the release of Ahmed Nasser, the deputy head of the Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad, who was detained in the Netherlands. Nasser was reportedly arrested following an incident involving another Egyptian national who filmed himself insulting staff at the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague.

During the call, Abdelatty urged the Dutch government to provide adequate protection for the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague, citing obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He emphasized the principle of reciprocity, noting that Egypt ensures the safety of all diplomatic missions on its soil. Berendsen expressed agreement regarding the importance of the issue.

In Egypt, political parties including the Free Egyptians Party and Mostaqbal Watan have criticized the incident, calling for transparency regarding the legal basis of Nasser’s detention. They have raised concerns over perceived double standards in the application of human rights and freedom of expression, as well as the perceived failure of Dutch authorities to protect the Egyptian diplomatic mission during recent provocations.