The Egyptian Ambassador to Cyprus has been caught on video slapping a police officer at Larnaca airport. The local authorities have taken the blame for the embarrassing incident, admitting to the ill-mannered behavior of the security staff.
Video of the incident shows Menha Mahrous Bakhoum swearing at the police before slapping one of the officers. The diplomat claimed she was subject to verbal and physical humiliation by airport security despite her diplomatic immunity.
Bakhoum was at the airport to see her daughter off when a female police officer asked her to remove her boots. Ambassador refused the request provoking a dispute, which resulted in the slapping of the officer. Bakhoum was then handled by a group of male officers as they dragged her to a separate room. Bakhoum reportedly grabbed the wig of a senior officer in protest at her detention, according to Cyprus Mail.
Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis has already officially apologized to the Egyptian ambassador for the behaviour of the security personnel, according to the Cyprus Mail.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses publicly and sincerely its regrets and apologises for the treatment of the ambassador, which was not in conformity with the principle of inviolability of the person and respect of diplomatic representatives,” Cyprus Foreign Minister Marcoullis said in a statement.
Cyprus Police said via a spokesman that Ambassador Bakhoum was not mistreated but she was seeking special treatment that was against security regulations. The police spokesman condemned the decision of the Republic of Cyprus to offer an apology to the Egyptian ambassador.
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