The family of an Egyptian-Australian man held in Cairo for more than a year fears he could be rearrested, and are asking for government help to bring him home.

April 2, 2019

The Brisbane family of an Egyptian-Australian man detained for more than a year without charge in Cairo has called on the federal government to help get him out of Egypt now he’s been released. 

Hazem Hamouda was arrested in January 2018 when he arrived in Cairo for a holiday with his family.

He was accused of having links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood and spreading falsities online – allegations his family denied.

Despite being freed in February, Mr Hamouda has been unable to leave Egypt.

In March, Egyptian authorities blocked him from boarding a flight to Brisbane, despite Australian consular officials escorting him to the airport.

“We fear he could be rearrested at any point,” Mr Hamouda’s eldest daughter, Lamisse Hamouda, 30, told AAP on Tuesday.

“We’re a bit on tenterhooks at the moment. We just don’t want any trouble whatsoever at the airport.”

Mr Hamouda’s family, along with his lawyer, Jen Robinson, have called on the federal government to provide the “maximum level of support” to smooth his exit.

“It would be really great to see a public statement from either Marise Payne or Scott Morrison in support of dad and his safe return home to Australia,” Ms Hamouda said.

Little information about the allegations was provided to Mr Hamouda’s family, who speculate the accusations may be linked to Facebook posts he made during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Ms Hamouda said her father’s arrival in Cairo coincided with the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution – January 25th.

Increased security on the day is likely to have brought him to the attention of the authorities, she said.