Turkish student detained in Egypt arrives home

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Emre Gürbüz (C), a Turkish student who was imprisoned in Egypt’s jails for 186 days, arrived in Istanbul following his release. AA Photo

Turkish student Emre Gürbüz, who was imprisoned in Egypt for six months after being accused of damaging al-Azhar University, was released and arrived in Turkey on May 26. 

Gürbüz, who had been studying in Egypt, was arrested on the al-Azhar University campus on Nov. 20 2013 during demonstrations.

“I have been through a lot, but thank God this is all over,” he told journalists at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport after being released 186 days later.

According to Gürbüz’s statements, he was taken into custody on the campus where he had gone to finalize the paperwork to transfer to a Turkish university.

“When I was leaving the campus, I was caught between protesters and the police,” said Gürbüz. “They assumed I was a protestor and arrested me.”

Gürbüz expressed his gratitude to the Turkish consulate in Egypt, which helped him arrange his transfer to Turkey while he was in custody.

He also spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and thanked him for his support.

Last year, Gürbüz and 20 other students were detained at al-Azhar University campus. The students faced charges for writing “Do not hurt the Grand Imam” on the university’s building and were sentenced from 3 to 5 years. The other students are still serving their prison sentences.