Tarek Loubani and John Greyson free to leave Egypt: lawyer [updated]

Update: Tarek Loubani and John Greyson were released from an Egyptian prison on Oct. 6th. According to a statement from their lawyer on Oct. 10th, they are now free to leave the country.

Thank you all for supporting the appeal below to free John and Tarek.

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The following is an urgent appeal from the Fredericton Peace Coalition for all New Brunswickers — organizations and individuals — to sign a letter for the immediate release of Dr. Tarek Loubani and John Greyson.

Dr. Tarek Loubani is a London, On.-based emergency physician and Western University professor who grew up in Bathurst, NB, where his family still resides. John Greyson is a filmmaker and York University professor. Both have been held since August 15th without charge in an Egyptian prison. For more background information on Tarek and John, please visit: http://tarekandjohn.com/.

The Canadian government has spoken diplomatically on their behalf, but needs to do more to ensure their safe return to their homes in Canada. To sign a letter to NB MPs, calling for them to demand John and Tarek’s safe return home, send your name or the name of your organization and city/town to Tracy at tracy.a.glynn@gmail.com or Judy at burwell.judy@gmail.com.

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Urgent: Open Letter to all New Brunswick Members of Parliament:

As residents of and organizations based in New Brunswick, we need you to exercise your influence and responsibility in this urgent matter:

Canadians John Greyson and Dr. Tarek Loubani have been imprisoned since August 15th by the military government in Egypt. They have not been charged with any offense. Without further delay, the federal government must demand their immediate release.*

Dr. Tarek Loubani is a London, On.-based emergency physician and Western University professor who grew up in Bathurst, NB, where his family still resides. John Greyson is an award-winning filmmaker and York University professor. Each is highly respected in his field.

In contravention of international law, Egyptian military authorities claim the right to hold the men without charge for as long as two years. On September 30th, Egyptian authorities extended their detention for an additional 45 days, again with no charges made.

To protest their continuing detention, they are in the second week of a hunger strike. Each day that passes, their health is at greater risk.**

Although the Canadian government has spoken diplomatically on their behalf, so far it has failed to demand their release. Amnesty International has called for their immediate release. More than 140,000 people have signed an international petition demanding their immediate release. Their release has been demanded by the Ontario and Canadian Medical Associations, the United Church of Canada, the Presidents of York, Ryerson, Queen’s and Wilfred Laurier Universities, and many other organizations and individuals. Significant numbers of residents in New Brunswick know one or both of these men; many are familiar with their work. Now many more will have heard of them through extensive coverage in the international press.

Further delay by the Canadian government is unacceptable. We insist that the government act swiftly and responsibly to bring John Greyson and Dr. Tarek Loubani home, safely and immediately.

Sincerely,

Organizations:

Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT)

Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas University (FAUST)

CUPE Local 3433, Mount Allison University

Fredericton Peace Coalition

Individuals:

Najat Abdou-McFarland, Fredericton, NB

David Adams Richards, Fredericton, NB

Hassan Arif, Fredericton, NB

Vaughn Barnett, Fredericton, NB

Shaun Bartone, Fredericton, NB

Tannis Beardmore, Estey Bridge NB

David Bell, Law, University of New Brunswick

Dr. Jim Berry, Estey Bridge, NB

Carrie Bishop, Fredericton, NB

Joe Blades, Fredericton, NB

Denis Y. Boulet, Fredericton, NB

Judy Burwell, Fredericton, NB

Patrick Colford, President of the NB Federation of Labour

Sarah Calhoun, Social Work, St. Thomas University

Sue Calhoun, Moncton, NB

Aloke Chatterjee, Fredericton, NB

Rhonda Connell, Fredericton, NB

Marchell Coulombe, Fredericton, NB

Sandra DeVink, Fredericton, NB

Jean Doucet

Theresa M. Duplessis, Fredericton, NB

Dr. Arielle Dylan, St. Thomas University

Kitty Elton, Fredericton, NB

Debbie Finigan, Saint John, NB

John Gahagan, Rothesay, NB

Jeannette Gaudet, Fredericton, NB

Jack Gegenberg, Math, University of New Brunswick

Michael George, St. Thomas University

Kathie Goggin, Fredericton, NB

Lynne Gouliquer, Fredericton, NB

Bonnie Glynn, St. Stephen, NB

Tracy Glynn, Environment & Society, St. Thomas University

Donna Gordon, Fredericton, NB

Joan Green, Fredericton, NB

Garry Guild, Fredericton, NB

Lee Ann Haggerty, Fredericton, NB

A.M. Hamza, Fredericton, NB

Leila Hamza, Fredericton, NB

Katy Haralampides, Fredericton, NB

Dr. Kanza A. Hashmat, Fredericton, NB

Matthew Hayes, Sociology, St. Thomas University

Joan Headley, Fredericton NB

Gary Heathcote, Fredericton, NB

Wanda House, Fredericton, NB

Dr. Jula Hughes, Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick

Dr. Tom Inkpen, Saint John, NB

Marian Jeffries, Grand Bay, NB

Sarah Kardash, Sackville, NB

Anne La Forest, Fredericton, NB

Loward Labillois, Hampton, NB

Debra Landine, New Maryland, NB

Simone Leibovitch, Fredericton, NB

Andrea MacNevin, Fredericton, NB

Dr. Jo Ann Majerovich, Fredericton, NB

Carol Mason

Charlene Mayes, Biology, University of New Brunswick

Paul McAfee, Saint John, NB

Charles McFadden, Fredericton, NB

Karen McFadden, Fredericton, NB

Joan McFarland, Fredericton, NB

Adrienne McIntosh

Andrew McIntosh

William McIver, Jr., Fredericton, NB

Adam Melanson, Fredericton, NB

Marilyn Merritt-Gray, Kars, NB

Y.O. Mersereau, Hoyt, NB

Sasha Mullally, Fredericton, NB

Brenda Murphy, Grand Bay, NB

Willi Nolan, Signigtog District, Mi’kmaq territory, Wabanaki

Nicole O’Byrne, Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick

Dr. Susan O’Donnell, Sociology, University of New Brunswick

Krysta Oland, Harvey, NB

Adnane Osmane, Fredericton, NB/Aalto University, Finland

Gloria Paul, Hoyt, NB

Thom Parkhill, Fredericton, NB

Tom Patterson, Fredericton, NB

George Peabody, Woodstock, NB

Karen Pearlston, Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick

Asaf Rashid, Fredericton, NB

Krista Reid, Fredericton, NB

Karen Robert, History, St. Thomas University

Dr. Suzanne Roberts, Saint John, NB

Josephine Savarese, Criminology, St. Thomas University

Derek Simon, Harvey, NB

Natasha Stephen, Saint John, NB

William J. Toner, Grand Bay, NB

Laura Vail, Fredericton, NB

Tim Vandenberghe, Saint John, NB

Martha Vowles, Grand Bay, NB

Sharon Weaver, Fredericton, NB

Allison Webster, Fredericton, NB

Suzanne Webster, Fredericton, NB

Debrah Westerburg, Woodstock, NB

Judith Wuest, Fredericton, NB

Sameera Yusuf

* Tarek Loubani and John Greyson were released from an Egyptian prison on Oct. 6th. They are still waiting to be allowed to leave the country.

**John Greyson and Tarek Loubani ended their hunger strike on Oct. 2nd.