Ms Taylor and her Lebanese colleague Helene Assaf, a translator, were then formally detained.

BBC: Libya ICC lawyer Melinda Taylor and colleagues fly out

It was no small task for Assaf to travel to Cairo to audition for the wildly popular show.

CNN: 'Arab Idol's' first contestant from Gaza grabs spotlight

Palestinian officials had to make special arrangements for Assaf to leave Gaza, his mother, UmShadi, a math teacher, explained.

CNN: 'Arab Idol's' first contestant from Gaza grabs spotlight

Competing alongside Assaf for the top spot is the show's first non-Arabic speaking finalist, Parwas Hussein, who is Kurdish, and Iraqi contestant Mohanad Marsoomy.

CNN: 'Arab Idol's' first contestant from Gaza grabs spotlight

Security guards seized him and were going to escort him out when a Palestinian official with the show recognized Assaf from his performances in Gaza and gave him a candidate number, allowing him to compete.

CNN: 'Arab Idol's' first contestant from Gaza grabs spotlight

Assaf is one of seven children.

CNN: 'Arab Idol's' first contestant from Gaza grabs spotlight