MISSING IN EGYPT OR ISRAEL

Kristen Coughlin Carr: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=268469877115&id=1017969775&ref=nf

My niece, Shannon Hughes, was traveling in Egypt and Israel in an effort to support human rights. As of 3 days ago the group with whom she was traveling parted from Shannon in Jerusalem. Shannon stayed with people she met during the trip. The last “normal” communication we rec’d was 3 days ago.

We’ve had very strange email requesting money. These emails have been written in a style not like Shannon, using terms she does not use. Bank records are suspicious. We received one frantic and cryptic – 10 second – phone call late last night requesting an immediate wire transfer. As of this morning she has gone silent.

Shannon knows her family would not fight her if she decided to stay in Egypt or Jerusalem. We are supportive of her, we love her and would do what we can do to ensure she’s living the life she wants to live. She would not chose to disappear from her family.

The US State Department, Egyptian Government consider her “Missing or Abducted” based on circumstances. They consider the situation “dire”

If you know anyone who was part of the Gaza Freedom March (#GFM), who has been in Egypt or Jerusalem in the last month who may have seen or talked to Shannon please comment to me.

If not, please re-post. And please pray for peace – no one should lose their life or worry over their loved ones because of hate.

Be the change you want to see in the world ~Ghandi

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MORE INFO

Shannon if you get this, please contact home, our prayers are with you love!

*** GFM, the Gaza Freedom March, was a delegation of almost 1400 people from 43 countries around the world. Shannon is one of us. She traveled with us to Egypt, then with a smaller group on to Israel, to promote a message of peace. It is now our turn to do the same for her. Please contact anyone in the media, especially our new friends in the Egyptian media, who may be able to help her.

“Abducted/Missing in Egypt! GFMer Shannon Hughes has not been seen or heard from in 3 days, with suspicious bank withdrawals tracing her from Taba, Israel to Dahab, Egypt. They believe she is still in Dahab. Please pass this along – as of yesterday the situation was declared ‘dire’ by US officials.”

I have urgent news to report back to everyone… unfortunately its not good news.

Today I spoke with Kristen Coughlin Carr, the aunt of one of our dear GFMers, Shannon Hughes (who was staying at Select Hotel). She informed me that Shannon is missing in Egypt. It has been reported to the US embassy, and they have declared her ‘missing or abducted’ and described the situation as ‘dire’. Here’s the details she shared with me:

Shannon was last in Jerusalem. She was traveling with a friend. Her friend returned home to the US. Shannon had planned on being on a flight from Cairo to NY today, Friday January 22, 2010. She did not get on that flight.

Earlier this week, Shannon called home. She told her mother “I need money, I can’t talk”. Her family sent her $200 US. That was in Taba, Egypt. She had planned on taking a bus from Taba back to Cairo to fly home. The next thing her family heard from her were a series of weird emails in which she said she said she was taking a cab to Dahab. Shannon began withdrawing money from her bank account in small increments in Taba, and the bank has her taking the last of the money from her account in Dahab.

Her family has contacted the US embassy in Egypt. The US embassy has declared Shannon missing or abducted after seeing the emails she sent. They were advised not to deposit any more money in her bank account, and hope that she will soon call home for more. They have not heard from her in 3 days.

Kristen Coughlin Carr, her aunt has asked that anyone who is still in Egypt, or who might know anyone still in Egypt contact her via Facebook, by adding her as a friend. They are hoping that facebook/twitter will greatly increase the chances of finding her. She can be contacted directly through email kristencar@gmail.com. I have attached a recent photo Kristen shared of Shannon.

Please spread the word.

UPDATE
Shannon has been spotted. Waiting to see if she’s on the flight we think she was trying to catch. The airline says no, but we are hoping
UPDATE
Shannon apparently got to airport but not on flight. Detained by Egyptians? Still looking.
UPDATE
Shannon Hughes has been found! She is safe & on her way home. More details to come.

UPDATE FROM SHANNON’S AUNT

Thank you for following Shannon’s story. We don’t have many details now but we know she is safe, we know she did have issues with her visa/passport. Shannon is on her way home.

Our family would like to thank everyone who pulled together and took their personal time and energy in to seeing Shannon’s return. People who do not know Shannon printed pictures of her and walked the streets of Taba, Dahab, Cairo and Jerusalem for the last 3 days looking for her. Activists all over the US, Egypt, Israel and all over the world joined together to see her return.

Shannon traveled to Egypt and Israel on a mission for human rights, freedom for all and for peace. Our family hopes this small discomfort we have experienced the last few days will help open the eyes of the world to the inhumanity in Gaza specifically but also to any part of the world where people are experiencing oppression.

In peace, love and solidarity,

Kristen Coughlin Carr

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Tags: #Gaza, Egypt, GFM, Israel, Missing, Palestine, Shannon Hughes