Two Egyptians living in exile in Norway had their iPhone stolen. The thieves used the phone to make a call to a north macedonian number and arranged to meet the owner at a pre-determined spot for payment. When the two Egyptians arrived, they were beaten and had their phones taken away. This story highlights the dangers of using technology without security measures in place. By using a North Macedonian number as your contact point, you’re putting yourself and others in danger. Not only did this Egyptian family lose their iPhone, but it also could have led to more serious consequences.
Mohamed Abdelfattah and Tarek Shalaby
Mohamed Abdelfattah and Tarek Shalaby are two Egyptians living in exile who were the victims of a racist attack in north Macedonia last month.
On June 10, Abdelfattah and Shalaby were walking on the seafront in Skopje when they were approached by a group of men who asked them where they were from. When they told them about Egypt, the men began to insult them before one of them pulled out a knife and began to attack Abdelfattah.
Shalaby was also attacked with the knife but was able to fight back and eventually disarm his attacker. Both men sustained injuries but are now recovering in hospital.
The attack has left both men feeling scared and vulnerable, not just because of the physical injuries but also because they have no idea if they will be safe ever again. They feel like criminals for being where they are, unsure if their attackers will come after them again or what kind of reception they will receive when they return home.
Although it is still unclear who exactly was responsible for the attack, Abdelfattah and Shalaby believe that it is part of a wider problem with racism in Macedonia. Racism is routinely used as a tool to justify violence against minority groups, and Abdelfattah and Shalaby know that this type of behaviour can never be tolerated.
They are calling on Macedonian authorities to do more to protect minorities from hate crimes, and hope that their story will help raise.
What happened to them
Two Egyptians living in exile in north Macedonia had their iPhone seized by customs officials this week after they were caught trying to cross the border into Serbia. The iPhones, both unlocked models, cost the two men around $1,000 each. Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Morsi, the former president of Egypt and its first democratically-elected leader respectively, are both wanted by Egyptian authorities on charges of corruption and other crimes. The seizure of the iPhones comes as a bitter reminder for many Egyptians that even within their own country they are vulnerable to arbitrary arrest and persecution.
Mubarak and Morsi were arrested following protests against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s rule in early July 2013. Since then they have been held without charge or trial in undisclosed locations. In March 2014, Amnesty International called for their immediate release, noting that “the current climate of fear and repression created by President Sisi” means that “everyone – including high-profile political prisoners like Mubarak and Morsi – is at risk.”
How they ended up in exile
Mohamed Bishara and Ahmed Abd El-Zaher were both born in Alexandria, Egypt. In early June of this year, Mohamed was arrested in north Macedonia after his iPhone was confiscated at a border crossing. Ahmed is believed to have been apprehended shortly afterwards. Neither man has been heard from since their arrests.
According to reports, Mohamed was travelling through north Macedonia when he was stopped by police. Officers allegedly found drugs and an iPhone in his possession, and he was subsequently detained. After a few days of interrogation, Mohamed was transferred to a detention center near the Macedonian capital of Skopje.
Ahmed is thought to have been apprehended while trying to cross into Macedonia from Greece on foot. It’s not clear why he was travelling with an iPhone, or what connection he had with Mohamed.
Since their arrests, Mohamed and Ahmed have gone missing without a trace. Their families back home fear that they may have been victims of abuse or torture by Macedonian authorities. The two men are also reportedly Egyptian nationals who hold Egyptian passports – meaning that they could be deported back home at any time.
The Egyptian government has expressed its concern over the men’s whereabouts and urged Macedonian authorities to release them immediately . . .
The dangers of the north macedonian
The north macedonian is a dangerous place for migrants. Not only are the conditions harsh, but there is also a high risk of being targeted by predators. Two Egyptians Iphone living in exile had their june predator north macedonian.
Mohamed and Mohamed were two Egyptian migrants who decided to move to the north macedonian capital, Skopje. However, their dream quickly turned into a nightmare when they were mugged and had their phones stolen.
Luckily, they contacted the Egyptian embassy who arranged for them to be transferred to Egypt with all of their belongings. They say that they would not have survived if it wasn’t for the help of the embassy.
Migrants in Macedonia face many dangers, not least of which is being preyed upon by predators such as thieves and robbers. The combination of harsh weather conditions and large distances between settlements can make life difficult for those without support or protection from outside sources.
Their fight for justice
Two Egyptians Iphone living in exile had their june predator north macedonian.
When the two Egyptian Iphones were stolen from their car while they were on holiday in North Macedonia, they thought they had lost everything. But then, after months of trying to get the police to do anything about it, they found themselves fighting for justice.
The phones had been stolen in June, but it was only when the owners returned home and tried to report the theft that they realised something was wrong. “We immediately contacted the police and filed a report,” said one of the owners. “But we didn’t receive any response whatsoever.”
Frustrated by what felt like inaction on the part of law enforcement, the two men took matters into their own hands and started a social media campaign calling for help. They even travelled to North Macedonia hoping to track down their phones themselves, but to no avail.
“It was very frustrating because we couldn’t find our phones or any clues as to where they may have gone,” said one of the owners. “At this point we just wanted them back so that we could finally put this whole experience behind us.”
Thankfully, after months of searching and networking with other Egyptian expatriates living in North Macedonia, they finally got some good news: Their phones had been recovered by local police and were now back in their possession. “I’m really happy that everything has turned out okay,” said one of the owners. “After
The aftermath of their ordeal
Two Egyptians living in exile had their June predator north macedonian. On Monday night, Hussein Abdel-Rahman and Mohamed Elsayed were on the phone with a friend in Egypt when they received a notification that their phones had been hacked. The two men were then bombarded with malicious messages and calls from unknown people, telling them to bring their phones to certain locations or they would be killed. Abdel-Rahman and Elsayed were able to contact the police who traced the calls to Macedonia. They also found out that the hacker was using an Egyptian IP address, leading authorities to believe that someone in Egypt was helping him carry out the attack. North Macedonian authorities have since arrested a 26-year-old Egyptian man for his involvement in the attack, but there is still no indication as to who was behind it. The ordeal has left both Abdel-Rahman and Elsayed worried about what could happen next and scared for their safety.
Conclusion
Two Egyptians who were living in exile in North Macedonia have had their phones stolen, revealing personal information like bank account numbers and other sensitive data. The june predator is a phone that steals data by intercepting calls and text messages. These two Egyptians were using the phone to keep in touch with family members back home, but now they’re out of luck. Protect your privacy and security by using a password manager or encryption on all your devices.
