L: John
Greyson is a filmmaker and professor at York University in Toronto.
R: Tarek Loubani is an emergency doctor from London, Ontario.
For Updates:
Aggregated links at The Globe & Mail
Justin Podur's blog
For Letter Writing, see example.
Email addresses to send letters:
The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs: [email protected]
Canadian Embassy in Egypt: [email protected]
Egyptian Embassy in Canada: [email protected]
Egyptian Embassy in the US: [email protected]
via The Toronto Star:
Canadian filmmaker John Greyson, physician Tarek Loubani arrested in Cairo
The fate of two Canadian men who were arrested in Egypt remains unknown amidst growing concern from family and friends of Tarek Loubani and John Greyson.
The fate of two Canadian men who were arrested in strife-torn Egypt remains unknown amidst growing concern from family and friends.
Tarek Loubani, an emergency room doctor from London, Ont., and John Greyson, a filmmaker and professor at York University, were arrested in Cairo Friday, according to Justin Podur, a mutual friend of both men.
At around 4 p.m., which is approximately 10 p.m. in Cairo, Loubani called Podur to tell him he and Greyson were being arrested.
“He basically said ‘We’re being arrested by Egyptian police,’” he told the Star, adding that the phone call was very brief. “I don’t know where they were arrested and I don’t know where they are now.”
Podur, a professor at the faculty of environmental studies at York University, says Loubani was on his way to Gaza as part of an ongoing collaboration between the University of Western Ontario and Al-Shifa Hospital. Greyson was tagging along as a filmmaker to do some exploratory work.
“Their plan was to travel from Egypt to Gaza,” he said. “They were in Cairo and the crossing was closed from what I understand so they stayed an extra day in Cairo and that’s when they were arrested. I haven’t heard from them since.”
Podur immediately contacted the Canadian government for help but has not received any updates on their status.
“We’ve got no idea of their condition or where they are right now.”
Caitlin Workman, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs, said they are aware of the arrest of a Canadian in Egypt.
“The embassy in Cairo is in contact with local authorities and we are prepared to provide consular assistance,” she said. She was unable to provide any additional details.
Hundreds of people have been killed in Egypt in the past week amidst clashes between supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi and security forces. Toronto resident Amr Kassam was shot dead while attending a protest in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on Friday. He was visiting Egypt with his wife Asmaa Hussein and their baby daughter.
+++
