# Germany warns its delegation of Egyptian spies at COP27 Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-11-14 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: German Delegation at COP27 Warned of Egyptian Surveillance Meta Description: German police caution COP27 delegation about potential surveillance by Egyptian agents following comments on human rights record by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. URL: https://financedigest.com/germany-warns-its-delegation-of-egyptian-spies-at-cop27html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-11-13t194851z1lynxmpeiac08nrtroptp4climate-un-1736814873923-compressed.jpg) BERLIN (Reuters) – German federal police have warned their nation’s delegation at the COP27 environmental summit in Egypt that its members may be subject to spying by Egyptian security agents, three people with knowledge of the matter said. In an email sent on Saturday, the police, known in Germany as the BKA, warned delegates of “overt and covert surveillance through photography and videography” by Egyptian agents, said one of the people quoting from the email. Comments last week by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about Egypt’s human rights record provoked the threat of surveillance, that person said. [Reuters did not view](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-builds-out-its-award-winning-connected-risk-platform-with-risk-management-solution-providing-a-personalized-enterprise-wide-view-of-risk.html "Thomson reuters builds out its award-winning connected risk platform with risk management solution providing a personalized enterprise-wide view of risk") the email sent by the police. Two other officials in [Germany confirmed the existence of the warning](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-to-warn-of-data-privacy-risk-from-car-security-cameras-in-germany.html "Tesla to warn of data privacy risk from car security cameras in Germany"), though they declined to elaborate on its specific wording. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Egypt’s COP27 [presidency or the state](https://www.financedigest.com/south-african-president-ramaphosa-to-make-state-visit-to-uk.html "South African president Ramaphosa to make state visit to UK") information service, which handles relations with foreign media. A spokesperson for the [German police declined](https://www.financedigest.com/decline-in-german-services-sector-eases-raising-hopes-for-milder-recession-pmi.html "Decline in German services sector eases, raising hopes for milder recession -PMI") to comment. In the warning, the police said delegates may have their conversations recorded and that people close to the Egyptian state may try to disrupt [events organised](https://www.financedigest.com/6-steps-to-organising-an-introvert-friendly-networking-event.html "6 Steps to organising an introvert-friendly networking event ") by the Germans “through provocative actions”, the person quoted the email as saying. Three German attendees at COP27, from non-governmental organizations and industry, said they had received verbal [warnings from other attendees and delegations of possible](https://www.financedigest.com/sp-warns-of-possible-economic-blow-hit-to-japan-inc-from-boj-rate-hike.html "S&P warns of possible economic blow, hit to Japan Inc from BOJ rate hike") surveillance. Two NGO [members told Reuters about what they viewed as suspicious activity that took place on occasions in recent days](https://www.financedigest.com/bloom-uk-celebrates-500-new-members-as-it-looks-ahead-to-international-womens-day-and-launches-its-2022-mentoring-scheme.html "Bloom UK celebrates 500 new members as it looks ahead to International Women’s Day and launches its 2022 mentoring scheme"), including being photographed and followed. One was Susann Scherbarth of the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation. The other was with the [Climate Action](https://www.financedigest.com/c-suite-nows-the-time-to-take-decisive-action-on-climate-change-heres-how.html "C-suite, now’s the time to take decisive action on climate change; here’s how.") Network but wished to remain unnamed. Reuters was unable to independently confirm their accounts. An official with [Germany’s foreign](https://www.financedigest.com/first-foreign-covid-vaccines-head-to-china-from-germany.html "First foreign COVID vaccines head to China from Germany") ministry said it expected participants to “be able to work and negotiate under secure conditions. “To this end, we are in continuous exchange with the Egyptian side,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. On Tuesday, Scholz said he had raised with the COP27 hosts the issue of the jailed hunger striker Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent activist and blogger [sentenced to five years](https://www.financedigest.com/belarus-sentences-in-absentia-former-olympian-herasimenia-to-12-years-in-prison-belta.html "Belarus sentences in absentia former Olympian Herasimenia to 12 years in prison – BelTA") on charges of spreading false news. A decision needs to be taken, a release has to be made possible, so that it doesn’t [come to it that the hunger striker dies,” Scholz told reporters](https://www.financedigest.com/twitter-asks-some-laid-off-workers-to-come-back-bloomberg-reports.html "Twitter asks some laid off workers to come back, Bloomberg reports"). Egypt’s [government has said prison authorities will provide](https://www.financedigest.com/finger-pointing-helps-no-one-it-is-time-for-retailers-energy-providers-and-government-to-band-together.html "Finger-pointing helps no one: it is time for retailers, energy providers and government to band together") Abd el-Fattah with healthcare. [(Reporting by Markus Wacket in Berlin and Tom Sims](https://www.financedigest.com/simalliance-members-report-shipments-of-4-9-billion-sims-in-2017-while-estimated-total-available-sim-market-in-2017-increases-2-75-to-5-6-billion-units.html "SIMalliance Members Report Shipments of 4.9 Billion SIMs in 2017, while Estimated Total Available SIM Market in 2017 Increases 2.75% to 5.6 Billion Units   ") in Frankfurt; Editing by David Evans and Frances Kerry) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---