that sense rather naive. I believe someone took advantage of his credulity. He was asked to hold certain documents for safe keeping. I argued that he was unaware of their content and that his life was in danger.’ The lawyer allowed himself a smile of satisfaction. ‘It took some doing, but in the end I managed to convince him that it was best for everybody, that this way he had a chance to start a new life.’ Ragab folded his hands together on top of the desk. ‘In the beginning he made only the slightest effort to stay in touch, but eventually even that died away.’
‘And you’ve had no contact with him since?’
‘No.’ Ragab frowned. ‘I don’t understand how he could be back in the country. It makes no sense.’
‘How much do you know of Musab’s activities after he left here?’
‘Nothing really. He was thousands of kilometres away. I have no idea of his new life. What will you do next?’
‘If Musab is looking for somewhere quiet to lay low then it would make sense to get out of Cairo. I think I might go to Siwa and talk to some of his old contacts.’
‘But why not take this to the police? Surely if someone like that is on the run State Security will be involved?’
‘If I am right about this, I don’t think they will even admit he is in the country.’
‘Very well, do it your way. Go to Siwa, take your time, do whatever you have to do. I want to know who killed Karima and why. And Makana, let me know how you are progressing.’
Makana promised he would do his best.
Sami was busy installing himself at the desk on the top deck when Makana arrived back at the awama . He had unplugged the telephone and connected the slim portable computer he had brought to the wall socket.
‘What am I looking at?’ Makana asked, leaning over his shoulder.
‘These are reports I came across online, all of them talking about the same thing. Extraordinary Rendition. That’s what they call it when the state kidnaps people in broad daylight and spirits them away, no one knows where. There are logs of unregistered flights being given clearance through third countries, such as Spain.’
‘What is the purpose of all this?’
‘Some of them are being held at secret locations, so-called Black Sites. No one knows exactly where. Effectively they just vanish off the map.’
Makana stared at the list of names being scrolled down the page.
‘Who are these people?’
‘Suspects. Usually Arabs, Muslims. People they think might have some connection to a terrorist organisation, which nowadays includes just about anyone with a funny name. It also means they have no concrete evidence, certainly nothing that could be held up in court.’
‘So these people are kidnapped and tortured in the hope they will confess all?’
‘Exactly. I don’t think we have fully grasped the degree of paranoia that followed the 9/11 attacks. What they are doing is creating a whole series of laws that deprive normal citizens of their basic human rights, and no one is protesting.’
‘You’re wasted here,’ Makana said. ‘You ought to be lecturing the Americans.’
‘It would take a decade and by then,’ Sami shrugged, ‘who knows where we’ll be?’
‘So why is Musab in this group?’
‘Well, it could all be coincidence. Something as simple as sharing the name of someone who is or was involved in terrorist activity. Or he could have donated money to a particular charity that has links to a terror cell. It could be any number of things.’
‘So these people haven’t necessarily done anything wrong?’
‘Most of them haven’t done anything. The net is being thrown wide with little regard for the law or consequences. Effectively, what this is saying is if you are a Muslim you have to prove your innocence. There is an assumption of guilt.’
‘Why have I not heard anything about this?’
A smile broadened on Sami’s face. ‘Finally, you are beginning to see the light. This is the future of journalism. There is
‘And you’ve had no contact with him since?’
‘No.’ Ragab frowned. ‘I don’t understand how he could be back in the country. It makes no sense.’
‘How much do you know of Musab’s activities after he left here?’
‘Nothing really. He was thousands of kilometres away. I have no idea of his new life. What will you do next?’
‘If Musab is looking for somewhere quiet to lay low then it would make sense to get out of Cairo. I think I might go to Siwa and talk to some of his old contacts.’
‘But why not take this to the police? Surely if someone like that is on the run State Security will be involved?’
‘If I am right about this, I don’t think they will even admit he is in the country.’
‘Very well, do it your way. Go to Siwa, take your time, do whatever you have to do. I want to know who killed Karima and why. And Makana, let me know how you are progressing.’
Makana promised he would do his best.
Sami was busy installing himself at the desk on the top deck when Makana arrived back at the awama . He had unplugged the telephone and connected the slim portable computer he had brought to the wall socket.
‘What am I looking at?’ Makana asked, leaning over his shoulder.
‘These are reports I came across online, all of them talking about the same thing. Extraordinary Rendition. That’s what they call it when the state kidnaps people in broad daylight and spirits them away, no one knows where. There are logs of unregistered flights being given clearance through third countries, such as Spain.’
‘What is the purpose of all this?’
‘Some of them are being held at secret locations, so-called Black Sites. No one knows exactly where. Effectively they just vanish off the map.’
Makana stared at the list of names being scrolled down the page.
‘Who are these people?’
‘Suspects. Usually Arabs, Muslims. People they think might have some connection to a terrorist organisation, which nowadays includes just about anyone with a funny name. It also means they have no concrete evidence, certainly nothing that could be held up in court.’
‘So these people are kidnapped and tortured in the hope they will confess all?’
‘Exactly. I don’t think we have fully grasped the degree of paranoia that followed the 9/11 attacks. What they are doing is creating a whole series of laws that deprive normal citizens of their basic human rights, and no one is protesting.’
‘You’re wasted here,’ Makana said. ‘You ought to be lecturing the Americans.’
‘It would take a decade and by then,’ Sami shrugged, ‘who knows where we’ll be?’
‘So why is Musab in this group?’
‘Well, it could all be coincidence. Something as simple as sharing the name of someone who is or was involved in terrorist activity. Or he could have donated money to a particular charity that has links to a terror cell. It could be any number of things.’
‘So these people haven’t necessarily done anything wrong?’
‘Most of them haven’t done anything. The net is being thrown wide with little regard for the law or consequences. Effectively, what this is saying is if you are a Muslim you have to prove your innocence. There is an assumption of guilt.’
‘Why have I not heard anything about this?’
A smile broadened on Sami’s face. ‘Finally, you are beginning to see the light. This is the future of journalism. There is
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