Two Canadian professors have been released from a Cairo prison, after being detained there for seven weeks without charge.
They are currently still in Egypt, waiting for permission to leave the country. In a surprise move, Egyptian authorities released York film professor John Greyson and Western University assistant professor Tarek Loubani, Canadian officials confirmed late Saturday night.
While the reasons behind their sudden release are unclear, Cecilia Greyson – John’s sister, speculated it was pressure from the Canadian government that had an impact, according to CTV News.
Minister of State (Foreign and Consular) Lynne Yelich confirmed the news of the release in a statement, “I look forward to Dr. Loubani and Mr. Greyson being reunited with their families and friends who have shown tremendous strength during this difficult time.”
“We are facilitating Dr. Loubani and Mr. Greyson’s departure from Egypt, and Canadian officials will continue to offer consular services to them and their families as needed,” the statement read.
York professor Justin Podur, spokesman for Greyson and Loubani in Canada, commented on the release of his friends on his blog, thanking all those who had “deployed a pretty remarkable array of talents and skills – and in Egypt, courage – to this problem.”
“It is impossible to acknowledge them all,” he wrote, “partly because so many of you just quietly went about doing what had to be done.”
A statement released by York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri also welcomed the news of the release.
“We look forward to their safe and swift return to Canada, and to welcoming John back to York,” wrote Shoukri.
Greyson and Loubani were on a hunger strike for two weeks, protesting their detainment, and had released news through their lawyer that they had been held in a tiny cockroach-infested cell, shared by 36 other prisoners before finally being moved.
The two were arrested on August 16, during a stopover in Cairo, which was only supposed to last for one night, on their way to Gaza. According to a statement released from prison, the two had decided to leave their hotel to see the anti-government demonstrations taking place nearby, which had turned violent. Loubani stopped to treat injured protesters, while Greyson filmed what was happening.
As they were trying to leave the protest and ask the police for directions, Greyson and Loubani say they were “arrested, searched, caged, questioned, interrogated, videotaped with a ‘Syrian terrorist,’ slapped, beaten, ridiculed, hot-boxed, refused phone calls, stripped, shaved bald, accused of being foreign mercenaries.”
They were then accused of carrying out an attack on a police station with members of the Muslim Brotherhood, but no charges were ever laid.
The two are now waiting to arrange a flight home.
Tamara Khandaker
Editor-in-Chief
