HÜDA PAR Deputy Chairman and Gaziantep Member of Parliament Şahzade Demir has strongly condemned the Egyptian authorities’ detention and deportation of international activists who traveled to Egypt to participate in a peaceful demonstration at the Rafah Border Gate in solidarity with Gaza.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Demir criticized what he described as a “shameful and unacceptable act” by Egyptian security forces, who raided hotels where activists were staying and detained those preparing to join the “Global March to Gaza.”

“It is unacceptable that conscientious people who went to Egypt to make a peaceful demonstration at the Rafah Border Gate against the genocide in Gaza were prevented, detained and deported by Egyptian security forces,” Demir said.

He emphasized that silencing voices of solidarity and repressing civil resistance only strengthens the hand of the oppressors: “The suppression of every step taken to stop the oppression only encourages the oppressors.”

Demir called on the Egyptian government to reverse its policy of obstructing international solidarity with the Palestinian people, particularly at a time when Gaza continues to face daily bombardments, starvation, and displacement under Israeli occupation.

“We call on the Egyptian administration to abandon this attitude that prevents solidarity with the Palestinian people,” he urged.

The Egyptian authorities have faced growing criticism in recent days for cracking down on activists arriving from various countries to participate in the global march, which was intended to highlight the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and demand an end to the Israeli siege.

Several prominent Turkish religious and humanitarian figures were among those detained, including ITTIHADUL ULEMA Vice President Mullah Abdulkudus Yalçın and Hope Caravan Vice President Erdal Elibüyük.

As Egypt continues to block the Rafah crossing and restrict the entry of international aid and solidarity missions, criticism from across the Muslim world is intensifying. (ILKHA)