Photo of deported Brotherhood operative causes arrest of Turkish airport worker

Turkish authorities have arrested an airport worker for snapping a Muslim Brotherhood operative as he was repatriated to Egypt on camera.

Airport cleaning worker Mohamed Amin Schalik snapped Brotherhood operative Mohamed Abdel Hafiz on a Turkish Airlines plane on the road back to Egypt. Abdel Hafiz's hands were cuffed and behind his back.

His photo made waves on social media and sent shock down the spines of Brotherhood members in Turkey. This caused embarrassment to Turkish authorities.

The authorities then arrested Schalik in their bid to allay the fears of Brotherhood members now seeking refuge in Turkey. They accused him of inciting hatred, according to the Turkish newspaper al-Zaman.

Turkish authorities are also interrogating eight customs officers at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport, against the background of the repatriation of the Brotherhood operative.

Turkey deported Abdel Hafiz, 18, to Egypt, knowing that he was sentenced to death in absentia in the Arab state for involvement in the assassination of public prosecutor Hesham Barakat.

The Brotherhood operative arrived in Istanbul from Mogadishu, Somalia, with an invalid visa.

A large number of Brotherhood members have escaped to Turkey, including some who are wanted by Egyptian courts for involvement in criminal offences.

Abdel Hafiz's repatriation is sending fear among these escaped Brotherhood figures that they too may meet the same fate.