Saudi brothers held in Egypt 'over illegal organ trade'

Two Saudi brothers have been held in Egypt for nearly two months after being accused by authorities of involvement in the country's organ black market.
2 min read
16 January, 2017
The brothers claim that Saudi Arabia's government has done little to help their situation [Getty]
Two Saudi brothers have been held in Egypt for nearly two months after being accused by authorities of involvement in the country's organ black market.

Abdul Ilah al-Shabrami, 37, said he was accompanying his brother Abdullah to have a kidney transplant in the Egyptian capital, the Saudi Gazette reported.

Al-Shabrami says he paid $75,000 for a kidney from a deceased donor in a deal that was approved by the Saudi embassy in Cairo.

"The operation was successful and my brother was recuperating," he added.

The pair's fate took a twist when Egyptian security services stormed their apartment and arrested them for colluding with organ traffickers.

According to al-Shabrami, his brother was held in a government hospital where he was handcuffed to a bed. He added that 60,000 Egyptian pounds [$3,170] was presented for his brother's release from the medical facility.

"I tried to travel home but discovered that I was blacklisted, prevented from travelling and listed as 'wanted' by the security agencies," he said.

Al-Shabrami says he was later approached by Egyptian police who demanded another 60,000 Egyptian pounds in bail money for his brother's release.

The travel ban on al-Shabrami's sick brother remains in place, despite the Saudi embassy in Cairo having promised several times to resolve the matter, al-Shabrami said.

Kidney purchases are illegal in Egypt, while paying for transplant procedures is not, thus allowing the country's illegal trade to thrive.

According to a report published by the British Journal of Criminology last year, a kidney on Egypt's black market can fetch up to $100,000.

These illegal organs are often obtained from migrants who are trafficked into the country and are desperate to pay their way onto their next destination.