Yesterday (October 14th, 2008) at 3:30 P.M. Cairo, Egypt time, my wife called me in a sharply broken emotional state. She said that the Egyptian security forces stormed in our pharmacy looking for me. Mr. Abdelhamid Mohamed Abderrahman (one of the previously detained Quranists, my wife’s brother, and the accountant at the pharmacy) could not stop them. They spread inside the pharmacy looking for me everywhere, then they asked Mr. Abdelhamid to escort them to my house.

Abdelhamid called my wife, informed her of their arrival to storm the house. He also called his brothers. My wife called me, before they arrive, in a state of a total nervous breakdown, fearing that she may be detained this time, fulfilling a previous promise of fabricating a case for my wife and making my kids homeless. I tried to assure her somewhat. I asked her not to let them in, fearing for the kids and any damage they may cause, but more importantly, fearing that they may hide anything of a criminal nature in the house and accuse her later off. I also asked her to call me when they arrive. And she did. She stopped them from storming into the house. Mr. Ayman Mohamed Abdelrahman (a lawyer, my wife’s other brother, and also a previous Quranist detainee) asked them to see the D.A.’s search permit to search the house, but the failed to provide it. It became clear that they have no permission to search my house or even my pharmacy. Five minutes later, I called Mr. Abdelhamid and asked him to put me through to the officer in charge. And the following conversation took place:

--Hello. Who is this?

--This is Captain Waleed Abdelwahab.

-What is going on? What are you here, and what do you need from my home, my pharmacy, and my family?

-I’m here for you. Where are you doctor??

- I’m in Canada, and you know this very well.

- Do you have a lawyer?

- Yes, I have Mr. xxxxx.

-Ok, have him com to our office.

-What for?? Is there a case or even a sentence? What is the case number then?

-I do not know.

-Where should he go exactly? And whom should he ask for?

-I do not know. Just have him come.

Then he gave the phone to Mr. Abdelhamid and took his force and left. Meanwhile, I heard in the background Mr. Abdelhamid yelling at them. Later on, I was informed that he told them:

“Quranists are not afraid of jail. It looks like you have nobody to bully but the Quranists. You know very well that Dr. Othman has been Canada for three years now. Why do you keep coming, asking, and searching?”

It is worth noting as well that this is not the first time that security forces come to my house or my in-laws’ house. Few months back, another security force came at 4:00 A.M to my in-laws’ house saying that they are from the Interior Minister’s office. They went to my house, but my wife did not let them in too. Then they asked the neighbors about me and my wife and the times she is home or at the pharmacy. The police also never stopped monitoring and bullying the previous Quranists detainees.

So here I ask, for how long will this silly series of harassments and persecutions by the Egyptian police to the families and children of Quranists? Finally, I hold the Interior Minister of Egypt fully responsible of the safety of my kids and my people. I will get back to him personally and officially in case my family is hurt in anyway by his officers.

Osman Mohamed Ali