Free Tarek and John -- please help

[blake 3:17]

Hi all,

These two brothers were caught up in a curfew round up in Cairo last Friday. They were travelling to Gaza to provide medical support and to do some work on making a film about the medical situation in Gaza.

Because of the current situation in Egypt, they couldn't get get near Gaza and were arrested by Egyptian military while trying to find their hotel in Cairo.

I'm pretty torn up about this -- I've known John Greyson for 20+ years as part of the Toronto arts and Toronto Left. Just worried sick.

https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/canadian-government-help-free-tarek-and-john

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canadian-filmmaker-arrested-egypt-608726

http://tarekandjohn.com/

[blake 3:17]

Emails to Canadian and Egyptian officials anywhere would be much appreciated!

Much love!

[Sentinel]

I signed the petition just now, and will send off some emails tomorrow.

[blake 3:17]

The first fifteen-day detention period has now lapsed without a renewal hearing, and nervous supporters of Loubani and Greyson in Canada and around the world are unsure what to make of it. El Shalakany emphasized that he doesn’t know for certain, but he believes that the prosecution likely has automatically renewed the detention order, thus entering into another fifteen-day period. “On Sunday [the beginning of the work week in Egypt], we’ll know if an order has been finalized for a renewal to the detention process”.

A doctor who visited the men relayed to the families that Loubani and Greyson were in “good health [and] high spirits,” though their legal team has cited concerns about the cell’s overcrowding. Since their arrest on August 16, Loubani and Greyson have not left the interior of Tora prison—from which former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was released on August 22—because officials, citing security concerns, have banned use of the courtyard for all prisoners. Accompanied by Canadian consular officials, lead defense counsel Marwa Farouk and Emad El Sissi last saw Loubani and Greyson over a week ago, on August 22.

In the meantime, family and friends of the men have banded together to agitate for their immediate release. Cecilia Greyson, spokesperson and sister of John, remarked on the outpouring of support, telling The Nation: “it has brought together people very rapidly. People care about them so much that we’re all able to put everything else on hold until we see this situation is resolved. That’s what anyone does when their loved ones are in crisis. But because of the high profile nature of their work…it becomes a little bit bigger than a regular story.”

http://www.thenation.com/article/175987/fate-canadians-detained-egypt-remains-unresolved#

[blake 3:17]

I think the petition is close to a 100 000 strong -- aw fuck.

This is why I love we love em --
?? -- http://vimeo.com/64853585 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UREohupHZxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RasbjkjyNI

[blake 3:17]

Just shy of 97000 at this moment, please sign: https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/canadian-government-help-free-tarek-and-john

[blake 3:17]

There'll be a contingent in the Labour Parade on Monday in Toronto in support, maybe elsewhere, not sure. Some support coming in from NYC, but not sure how wide, and if any connection to workers movement

[blake 3:17]

There was a sizable contingent at the Labour day parade here.

Gus Van Sant is in on the cause! fuck


LONDON, Ont. - A famed Hollywood director is joining a growing chorus demanding the release of two Canadians stuck in an Egyptian jail for 18 days.

London, Ont., emergency room doctor Tarek Loubani and Toronto filmmaker John Greyson and their lawyers met with an Egyptian prosecutor on Friday but were told they will have to wait a few more days for any decision on their release.

On the weekend, Gus Van Sant, the Oscar-nominated director of Good Will Hunting and Milk, sent a letter of support for Greyson and Loubani to a blog maintained by Greyson's sister Cecilia.

Van Sant said he's known and respected Greyson for 33 years.

"I am concerned for his well-being after his arrest. I hope that you will release him and allow him to continue his wonderful and helpful life," Van Sant said in the letter.

Van Sant contacted Cecilia Greyson after reading a story about Greyson and Loubani at lfpress.com and emailing QMI Agency seeking contact information for her.

Greyson is a former Londoner and an award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Toronto.

Loubani is an emergency room doctor and Western University assistant professor. Both men have a history of social activism.

On her blog, Cecilia Greyson said she's hopeful the Egyptian prosecutor will have more news Tuesday. The prosecutor said Friday that he needed more information on the Canadian men detained in Cairo on their way to a hospital in Gaza.

Greyson noted on her blog a large group of supporters marched in the annual Labour Day Parade in Toronto carrying signs of support for Loubani and Greyson.

In Calgary, members from the arts community joined the annual Pride March with similar signs.

A petition linked to Greyson's website (http://tarekandjohn.com) has gathered about 100,000 signatures asking the Canadian government to intervene.

The two men have not been charged since they were arrested in Cairo on Aug. 16 on their way to a medical mission in Gaza.

Egyptian authorities claim they took part in a plot to attack a police station in the strife-torn country.

[blake 3:17]

There's a new petition from LabourStart here. Please sign! xoxoxoxo : http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1943

[blake 3:17]

DAY 23 UPDATE: MAKE YOUR OWN BUTTON!
September 9, 2013 · by cgreyson · in DAY 23, SUPPORT. ·
FTAJ_pinkbutton
Our button spotted (on a matching shirt!) at TIFF
It’s Day 23 for Tarek and John, and we are busy spreading our message all over town!

Our TIFF button continues to be a hot commodity, with programmers, directors and actors (like Paul Giamatti) wearing one proudly.

In fact, we’ve had so many requests for buttons, that we are encouraging people to make their own!

If you want to rock our pink button (minus the #TIFF13) you can download our original button design for printing by CLICKING HERE.

And if you haven’t seen coverage of our TIFF campaign, check out these articles in the Toronto Star and Vulture.com.

As well, Quebec playwright Michel Marc Bouchard wrote an incredibly moving op-ed for Le Devoir published yesterday (in French, but you can get a rough translation from Google if you need it).

Bouchard wrote the play “Lilies” that my brother adapted into a Genie-award-winning film. The article is an incredibly moving tribute to both John and Tarek and their situation.

Right now, we’re gearing up for our press conference early this week, which will be an opportunity to share Tarek and John’s story with national and international media.

We will be recording the press conference and then uploading the entire event to YouTube, so you will all be able to share the event with us.

http://tarekandjohn.com/2013/09/09/day-23-update-make-your-own-button/

[blake 3:17]

Tarek and John are on hunger strike
Submitted by Justin Podur on Mon, 09/16/2013 - 16:14
Canada
Canadians detained in Egypt refuse food to protest the arbitrary nature of their detention

September 16, 2013
12:00pm

For immediate release –

Canadian filmmaker, John Greyson, and emergency room physician, Tarek Loubani, have informed friends and supporters through their Egyptian lawyers that they will be refusing food beginning September the 16th to protest the arbitrary nature of their detention by Egyptian authorities.

Greyson and Loubani, who were transiting through Cairo on their way to Gaza where Loubani was carrying on a medical aid project, and Greyson was preparing for a film project, have been detained in Cairo’s Tora prison for the past 31 days. During that time, Egyptian officials have not provided any reason for the ongoing detention.

Greyson and Loubani’s detention could be extended up to 2 years without formal charges being laid according to new emergency measures put in place in Egypt.

“We can only imagine the anguish that John and Tarek feel after realizing that their detention could be extended for so long in what can only be described as an arbitrary process that lacks any credibility,” said Cecilia Greyson. “We know that they did not take the decision to begin a hunger strike lightly, and we want them to know we will do everything we can to support them and get them home soon,” she added.

“We have been overwhelmed by all of the support we have received in our campaign to bring Tarek and John back home,” said Mohammed Loubani. “We are also grateful to the many Department of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (DFATD) employees, and consular officials who have worked so tirelessly to make sure Tarek and John stay safe and are returned to us as soon as possible,” he added.

“We also want to thank Prime Minister Harper, Minister Baird, and Minister Yelich for advocating for John and Tarek’s release at the highest levels of the Egyptian Government,” said Mohammd Loubani. “We are especially looking forward to the results of discussions with the Egyptian Prime Minister, Mr. Hazem El-Beblawi; Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Abdul-Fatah Al-Sisi; and Minister of Interior, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim about John and Tarek’s ongoing detention,” he added.

A change.org petition calling for the release of the two Canadians has received 115,000 signatures to date. In addition, 311 prominent cultural and academic figures have signed a letter calling for John and Tarek’s release. Among the signatories are Alec Baldwin, Alex Gibney, Arundhati Roy, Atom Egoyan, Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Danny Glover, Sarah Polley, Naomi Klein and Michael Ondaatje

Amnesty International has issued an urgent action (http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/uaa24813.pdf) about Tarek and John, asking for letters and phone calls directly to Interim President Adly Mahmoud Mansour, Minister of Defence General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Public Prosecutor Hesham Mohamed Zaki Barakat.

Supporters of Tarek and John will be gathering at the Egyptian Consulate in Montreal at 1pm on Tuesday September 24. “The Egyptian authorities seem to be sending the message that Egypt is not a safe place to travel to, that if you go there, you can be jailed for a long time and with no recourse,” said Justin Podur. “We want to send the message that we will not forget our friends, and we will not settle for anything less than their immediate release.”

Contact: Justin Podur, [email protected] Cecilia Greyson, [email protected]

[blake 3:17]

Latest from Amnesty International: http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/uaa24813.pdf

[blake 3:17]

It's bad.

Impending Charges? Tarek and John in their own words
Submitted by Justin Podur on Sat, 09/28/2013 - 14:55
Canada
September 28/13, 11am

We have held on to this statement out of fear that the Egyptian authorities would harm Tarek and John if we released it. But given the announcement of impending charges in the Toronto Star today, we think that their own words can explain what the “evidence” the Egyptian authorities claim to have is. We believe that the impending charges have much more to do with what Tarek and John witnessed on August 16th, rather than what the Egyptian authorities claim they did.

Statement:

"We are on the 12th day of our hunger strike at Tora, Cairo's main prison, located on the banks of the Nile. We've been held here since August 16 in ridiculous conditions: no phone calls, little to no exercise, sharing a 3m x 10m cell with 36 other political prisoners, sleeping like sardines on concrete with the cockroaches; sharing a single tap of earthy Nile water.

"We never planned to stay in Egypt longer than overnight. We arrived in Cairo on the 15th with transit visas and all the necessary paperwork to proceed to our destination: Gaza. Tarek volunteers at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, and brings people with him each time. John intended to shoot a short film about Tarek's work.

"Because of the coup, the official Rafah border was opening and closing randomly, and we were stuck in Cairo for the day. We were carrying portable camera gear (one light, one microphone, John's HD Canon, two Go-Pros) and gear for the hospital (routers for a much-needed wifi network and two disassembled toy-sized helicopters for testing the transportation of medical samples).

"Because of the protests in Ramses Square and around the country on the 16th, our car couldn't proceed to Gaza. We decided to check out the Square, five blocks from our hotel, carrying our passports and John's HD camera. The protest was just starting – peaceful chanting, the faint odour of tear gas, a helicopter lazily circling overhead – when suddenly calls of “doctor”. A young man carried by others from God-knows-where, bleeding from a bullet wound. Tarek snapped into doctor mode...and started to work doing emergency response, trying to save lives, while John did video documentation, shooting a record of the carnage that was unfolding. The wounded and dying never stopped coming. Between us, we saw over fifty Egyptians die: students, workers, professionals, professors, all shapes, all ages, unarmed. We later learned the body count for the day was 102.

"We left in the evening when it was safe, trying to get back to our hotel on the Nile. We stopped for ice cream. We couldn't find a way through the police cordon though, and finally asked for help at a check point.

"That's when we 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. Was it our Canadian passports, or the footage of Tarek performing CPR, or our ice cream wrappers that set them off? They screamed 'Canadian' as they kicked and hit us. John had a precisely etched bootprint bruise on his back for a week.

"We were two of 602 arrested that night, all 602 potentially facing the same grab-bag of ludicrous charges: arson, conspiracy, terrorism, possession of weapons, firearms, explosives, attacking a police station. The arrest stories of our Egyptian cellmates are remarkably similar to ours: Egyptians who were picked up on dark streets after the protest, by thugs or cops, blocks or miles from the police station that is the alleged site of our alleged crimes.

"We've been here in Tora prison for six weeks, and are now in a new cell (3.5m x 5.5m) that we share with 'only' six others. We're still sleeping on concrete with the cockroaches, and still share a single tap of Nile water, but now we get (almost) daily exercise and showers. Still no phone calls. The prosecutor won't say if there's some outstanding issue that's holding things up. The routers, the film equipment, or the footage of Tarek treating bullet wounds through that long bloody afternoon? Indeed, we would welcome our day in a real court with the real evidence, because then this footage would provide us with our alibi and serve as a witness to the massacre.

"We deserve due process, not cockroaches on concrete. We demand to be released.

"Peace, John & Tarek"

http://podur.org/node/1043

[blake 3:17]

Very bad news:


It outlines an alarming, and wide-ranging, list of allegations — among them murder and “intention to kill” — against Greyson and London, Ont., doctor Tarek Loubani, who have been detained in a Cairo jail since Aug. 16. The pair were arrested during a week of violence that followed protests against the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
The authorities have not yet laid formal charges against the men, but their detention was extended on Sunday by another 45 days to allow for ongoing investigations by the Egyptian attorney general.

For the first time, the Star is publishing a detailed list of the intended charges the authorities are pursuing against them. Similar charges are also being sought for 140 Egyptians scooped up during demonstrations in the heart of Cairo that left dozens dead.

The most serious allegations against the Canadians include murder, “intention to kill,” aiding and abetting murder, and “using explosives against the Azbakiya police station” in central Cairo. At least one of those allegations — murder — carries a potential death sentence in Egypt.

Both Greyson and Loubani deny all the allegations. Lawyers say there is no credible evidence against the two men, and they should be released without charge.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/10/01/john_greyson_and_tarek_loubani_egypt_considering_m urder_charges_against_canadians.html

[blake 3:17]

Brothers been freed! Not home yet, but it's sure.


150k signatures, numerous protests, bunch of international delegations later. Ran into a friend late last night who had the news, it was the best!


There's gonna be a booty shaking house wrecker of a party once they're back!

Love n respect to all who helped out! Free all political prisoners! Freedom for the people of Egypt and Palestine!