Family of Canadian illegally detained in Egypt pleads for help from Ottawa
Family of Ontario man detained in Egypt urges action from Ottawa for release (Global News/Google Images)
Written by: Mariam Nouser
The family of Yasser Albaz is calling on immediate action from the Canadian government to secure his release.
Albaz remains arbitrarily detained in Cairo’s Tora Prison 10 months after his detention.
He was detained at Cairo International Airport on Feb. 18 while on his way back from Egypt to Oakville Ont. During a press conference in Ottawa this Wednesday, his daughter Amal Albaz said that the father of three has slept in a crowded jail cell with 17 other men, taking turns to sleep on the floor and share an unsanitary toilet.
Albaz’s detention has been extended 45 days at a time in what some call a routine appointment. As a result of his detention, he has missed the wedding of his youngest daughter, the Grade 8 graduation of his son and the first birthday of his youngest grandchild.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, François-Philippe Champagne’s visit to Egypt this week has prompted the family to further their mandate to release Albaz immediately. A press conference was held in Ottawa on Wednesday. It included Albaz’s oldest daughter, wife, a representative from Amnesty International as well as other advocacy organizations.
According to Champagne’s spokesperson, Adam Austen, the minister has directly raised the case to his counterpart in Egypt.
Albaz is known as a leader throughout many Muslim communities in the Greater Toronto Area. According to his daughter, Amal Albaz, he was politically inactive, “so this came as a complete shock.”
The Egyptian government has not indicated why Albaz was arrested. In addition, no charges have been laid. His family is in the dark about why he was not allowed to leave the country.
“It’s been traumatic. It’s been a nightmare. Everyone in our family is suffering. He has missed so much of our lives. We miss him immensely. Every morning we wake up to continue our fight for our father,” said Amal Albaz.
The lack of urgency on a governmental level has been apparent to some in communities. While the two Canadians in China have yet to be released, the coverage on Albaz’s detention has paled in comparison to their situation.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is also calling on the immediate of Albaz. Executive Director Mustafa Farooq joined the Albaz family in Ottawa to show NCCM’s support.
“Yasser is Canadian. Yasser is your neighbour. Yasser is you,” Farooq said. “Yasser is in a prison cell, subject to horrendous abuse and that is an attack on all Canadians. We can not allow this to continue.”
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