Arrests Made During Presidential Visit
Egyptian activist Anas Habib and his brother, Tarek Habib, were arrested in Brussels earlier this week, coinciding with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to the Belgian capital. The arrests were reportedly made on allegations related to 'surveillance and threatening President Sisi' while he was in Brussels for the inaugural Egypt-EU summit.
According to Egyptian media reports, Belgian security forces detained the two brothers inside their hotel and confiscated their mobile phones as part of the ongoing investigation.
Context of President Sisi's Brussels Engagements
President al-Sisi arrived in Brussels on October 21, 2025, to participate in the first-ever EU-Egypt summit, which took place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. During his visit, President Sisi engaged in a series of high-level meetings, including discussions with:
- European Council President António Costa
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- King Philippe of Belgium
The summit aimed to deepen the strategic and comprehensive partnership between Egypt and the European Union, focusing on areas such as political relations, economic stability, trade, investment, migration, and security.
Anas Habib's Activism Background
Anas Habib is known as an opposition activist and content creator, currently based in the Netherlands. He previously gained significant attention in July 2025 when he chained shut the gates of the Egyptian embassy in The Hague. This act was a protest against Egypt's alleged complicity in the Gaza conflict and the closure of the Rafah border crossing. He also undertook a similar protest at the Jordanian embassy.
Habib has a history of political activism, having been imprisoned in Egypt for two years at the age of 15. Weeks prior to his arrest in Brussels, Dutch police had detained him for questioning following an alleged assault on the Egyptian Embassy in the Netherlands, though he was subsequently released.
Official Silence and Ongoing Coordination
As of the latest reports, neither Belgian officials nor the Egyptian Embassy in Brussels have issued formal statements regarding the arrests of Anas and Tarek Habib. However, local sources indicate that Belgian authorities are coordinating with their Egyptian counterparts to ascertain the nature of the alleged threats and investigate any potential plots.
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