German diplomat denied entry to Egypt

CAIRO – 23 November 2017: Sharm El-Sheikh airport authorities banned on Thursday German diplomat Christopher Jones, who works for his country's embassy in Israel, from entering the country in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.

The diplomat arrived from Germany with his family using a diplomatic passport, but without a pre-entry visa, for tourism purposes.

Ambassador Ashraf Mounir, Egypt’s deputy assistant Foreign Minister for Diplomatic Passports, was contacted and he ordered that the principle of reciprocity be applied on the German diplomat. Jones was denied entry into the country and was deported on the first plane.

Egypt has started to apply the principle of reciprocity in 2010 which requires that all holders of diplomatic or special passports from all over the world obtain pre-entry visas from Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad, later prompting several countries to sign deals with Egypt to implement the principle of reciprocity.