Briton held in Egypt after being found in possession of manuscripts

Airline Industry Information, August 23, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A British man was detained by authorities at Egypt's Cairo airport on Saturday (20 August) after he was allegedly found in possession of Islamic and Coptic manuscripts.

Douglas Ross was attempting to board a Paris-bound flight when he was searched by customs officials who apparently found him in possession of the documents.

According to The Associated Press the airport's antiquities inspector said that Ross was allegedly carrying manuscripts which included old books on religion, medicine and astrology, as well as handwritten Coptic Bibles. Under current Egyptian law manuscripts over 100 years of age are classified as antiquities.

Ross reportedly informed airport officials that he had been asked to carry the manuscripts by an Egyptian and he was to deliver them to a London address, said The Associated Press.

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