Emiratis Arrest Egyptian Presidential Candidate Ahmed Shafik, Lawyer Says<br />2, 2017<br />CAIRO — The United Arab Emirates arrested an Egyptian presidential candidate to deport him to Egypt, his lawyer said Saturday.<br />Mr. Shafik, a former Air Force general and a former prime minister, has lived in the United<br />Arab Emirates since he narrowly lost Egypt’s only free presidential election, in 2012.<br />The move against Ahmed Shafik is the strongest indication yet of the length<br />that the United Arab Emirates is willing to go in order to protect President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt from any real challenge in his expected campaign for re-election next spring.<br />In a leaked recording of a telephone call, Mr. Shafik said he would not run<br />because the vote would be "a farce." "I know very well they will fix all the ballot boxes," he said.<br />He had said in recent days that he intended to run again but the United Arab Emirates had blocked him from travel.<br />Emirati said that We are just worried because, you know, nothing is guaranteed.
