Cairo -- Egypt imprisoned and aims to deport a German family that tore up its German identification papers upon arrival, fearing the documents would connect them to an "infidel state," Egyptian Independent Al-Badeel newspaper reported.

Egypt accused the family of Islamic extremism and imprisoned the family, a man, his wife, his two sisters and his mother. According to media reports, the family does not want to return to Germany.

Currently, the German embassy in Cairo is cooperating with Egyptian officials to deport the family. However, it has declined to give them new identification documents for fear that it would also be destroyed. The country responsible for the family’s flight costs is under consideration. .

Eyewitnesses said the female members of the family wore clothing that only allowed their eyes to be seen. None of the family members are fluent in Arabic, which made communication with police authorities difficult. After their arrest, the process of being photographed for a passport was met with a lack of cooperation by the family who considered it an act against Muslim principles. 

In view of the family’s wish to remain, Al-Badeel quoted political scientist, Hossam Tamaam, as saying new converts to Islam often leave their home countries to live in Muslim countries and can be prone to religious extremism.

DPA/Expatica