Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The family of an Egyptian sailor released by Iranian authorities said they have finally begun to breathe again after a detention that lasted roughly eight months an ordeal marked, they said, by complex procedures and days of uncertainty.
In statements relayed by the family, the brother of the detained officer said the household received the news of the release through an official announcement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement, he added, confirmed that the sailor had been transferred and reached Oman before returning to Egypt.
According to the family, the crew of the ship after being freed arrived first at Muscat. An Egyptian embassy team was reportedly there to receive them and to oversee and facilitate the administrative steps needed to ensure the sailor’s swift onward travel to Cairo. The family stressed that the continued consular coordination helped smooth the process from reception to airport departure.
While the release brought relief, the family described the preceding months as profoundly stressful. They said their son’s absence, which stretched to about eight months, pushed them into a state of intense worry particularly because the detention unfolded during a period when regional tensions intensified and the region experienced heightened political and military developments.
The first reunion, the family said, was emotionally overwhelming. They described a moment of collective gratitude and reverence immediately after the officer’s arrival, saying family members fell to their knees in thanks to God for his safety. They also recalled a deeply personal gesture: the officer, they said, kissed his parents’ hands upon arrival an act that captured, in their view, the emotional weight of the wait and the abrupt end to months of fear.
Beyond the private relief, the family credited Egypt’s state institutions and the relevant authorities for their role in securing the outcome. In particular, they highlighted the efforts of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointing to what they characterized as sustained follow-up and coordination throughout the detention period. They said this work extended beyond negotiations for release to include handling logistics for reception and travel, helping bring the process to a close with minimal disruption.
Earlier, an Egyptian diplomatic official announced the sailors’ arrival in Cairo, stating that the released men were in good health and had been reunited with their families. The announcement was made by Egypt’s Ambassador Haddaad Al-Jawhari, assistant foreign minister for consular affairs and Egyptians abroad, who said the sailors were safe and with their loved ones.
The release capped a diplomatic effort to end the sailor’s detention on board the vessel “Reem Al-Bihar” at Bandar Abbas in Iran. The detention began in January, and months of follow-up eventually resulted in the sailor’s freedom and return.
For the family, the homecoming is not just the end of a legal and procedural process; it is a restoration of normal life after a long period of emotional strain. As they expressed gratitude, they also framed the outcome as evidence based on their experience of the persistence of diplomatic channels and consular support in resolving cases involving Egyptian nationals abroad.
