Egypt says wanted ex-minister arrested in Italy released

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has said Italian authorities have released a former minister wanted in Egypt after detaining him briefly.

The ministry’s Thursday statement says Mohamed Mahsoub’s release took place after the Italians determined Mashsoub has held Italian citizenship since 2016.

The Egyptian ministry said it will monitor Mahsoub’s case.

On Wednesday, Mahsoub released an online video saying he was held at Comiso police station in southern Italy based on “fabricated charges” at Egypt’s request.

Mahsoub briefly served as minister of state for parliamentary affairs in 2012 as a member of the Islamist al-Wasat party under former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who hailed from the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Egypt launched a severe crackdown on Islamists after the 2013 military coup led by current president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ousted Morsi, an event followed by a bloody massacre against Islamists protesting the coup at Rabaa Square.