Egypt's expat affairs minister to visit 11 Egyptians injured in New Zealand mosque attacks

Ahram Online , Monday 18 Mar 2019

Nabila Makram
File photo: Egypt's Immigration Minister Nabila Makram Ebeid in Cairo, Egypt, February 29, 2016 (Photo: Reuters)

Egypt's Minister of Immigration and Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram will head to New Zealand on Tuesday to visit the 11 Egyptians injured in the Christchurch mosque attacks this weekend which left 51 people dead.

A gunman attacked two mosques in the city during Friday prayers, in what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern later described as a terrorist attack.

A 28-year-old suspect appeared in court on Saturday charged with murder. Two other suspects remain in custody.

Makram will also visit Australia next week, where she will launch the Humanitarian Love and Cooperation among Communities initiative as part of the Revival of the Roots campaign which is for the Egyptian, Greek and Cypriot communities of Egyptian origin in Australia.

"We aim with this initiative, which coincides with incidents of terrorism against different foreign communities, to send a message of solidarity to reject violence and terrorism, and to spread the spirit of brotherhood and harmony among the various communities; to reject any kind of extremist ideas that always seek to create division," she said. 

Makram added that Fotis Futio, the presidential commissioner for humanitarian and expatriate Cypriots, Terrence Kwick, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Greece, and a number of members of the Australian Parliament, including immigrants, will participate in the event in Australia.

The three countries also look forward to a number of objectives in this edition of the campaign, she said, including the promotion of trade cooperation and cooperation between the three countries through the Greek, Cypriot and Egyptian communities.

There are a number of meetings scheduled for this edition with a number of Australian officials as well as the symbols of the three communities, as well as meetings with businessmen and members of the Australian and Arab Chambers of Commerce in Melbourne.

 

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