An American Expert Was Invited to Speak at a Conference in Egypt...But When Her Plane Landed in Cairo, Officials Were Waiting to Meet Her With Some Harsh News

CAIRO (TheBlaze/AP) — Egypt denied entry to a prominent American scholar arriving at Cairo's international airport Saturday, the latest incident in the country's sweeping crackdown on dissent.

(Image via Dennis Jarvis/flickr)

Michele Dunne, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former U.S. diplomat, had accepted an invitation to speak at a conference organized by the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, made up primarily of former Egyptian diplomats.

In her work, Dunne is frequently critical of the Egyptian government.

From Frankfurt, Germany, she said on Twitter that some Egyptians complain she doesn't pay enough attention to pro-government views. But "when I accept invite to (conference) of pro (government) group they deny me entry. Go figure."

Some Egyptians complain I don't list enough to pro govt views. When I accept invite to conf of pro govt group they deny me entry. Go figure.

— Michele Dunne (@MicheleDDunne) December 13, 2014

Airport authorities say Dunne's name appeared on a no-entry list prepared by security officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

On Twitter, Dunne's situation prompted an outpouring of support for her...

@MicheleDDunne So sorry to hear about your experience, as an Egyptian.

— على (@aliJanuary25) December 13, 2014

...and an outpouring of criticism for Egypt's leaders.

Only a very dumb and insecure regime would be afraid of someone like @MicheleDDunne and decides to deport her. #Egypt

— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) December 13, 2014

Our cowardly regime denied @MicheleDDunne entry into #Egypt Friday. What are they scared of? Confident leaders don't bar political analysts

— Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) December 13, 2014

Last August Human Rights Watch executive director Ken Roth and regional director Sarah Leah Whitson were also denied entry to Egypt ahead of the publication of a report accusing the government of possible crimes against humanity.

Since Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown last year, the Muslim Brotherhood group has been branded a terrorist organization. Its members have been imprisoned, detained and killed in a crackdown conducted under the banner of "combating terrorism."

The crackdown has extended to liberal and leftist critics of the government. Over 20,000 people have been arrested since Morsi's ouster last year.