Press Release:
Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa Attempted to Prevent Movie Screening of "El Hatk"
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Ottawa, February 14th, 2020
The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) has been informed by employees at Imagine Cinemas at St. Laurent Shopping Centre in Ottawa, that the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa has called them to express their refusal of the screening of "El Hatk" (The Assault) movie. The St. Laurent branch of Imagine Cinemas has informed the Egyptian Embassy that their stance is not to take sides.
The Egyptian Embassy then reached out to Imagine Cinemas head office to attempt to prevent the screening, but the head office reiterated their stance to not take sides.
"El Hatk" (The Assault), is a movie directed by Mohamed El Bahrawy who was jailed in Egypt for 3 years. Inspired by true events, the movie depicts the story of a group of youth in Egypt facing the challenges of the police state. You can watch the trailer of the movie by clicking here.
ECCD is organizing the screening of the movie in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal.
The screening in Ottawa will take place on Saturday, February 15th at 6:30 PM at Imagine Cinemas @ St. Laurent Shopping Centre, 1200 St Laurent Blvd.
The screening in Toronto will take place on Saturday, March 7th at 5:00 PM at Innis Theatre Hall @ University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue.
Journalists and representatives of the media are invited to attend.
The movie will be displayed with English subtitles.
The screening in Montreal took place on Sunday February 2nd at Cinema du Parc. You may watch the testimonial of one of the audience in this link.
We thank Imagine Cinemas for not accepting the requests of the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa to prevent the screening of the movie.
Links to Facebook Event Pages:
- Montreal Screening, Sunday February 9th @ Cinema du Parc
- Ottawa Screening, February 15th @ Imagine Cinema
- Toronto Screening, March 7th @ University of Toronto
Background:
In January 25th 2011, millions of Egyptians participated in a revolution that successfully ended the 30-year rule of dictator Hosni Mubarak. However, just two-and-half years later, a military coup occurred that overthrew democratic rule and started a tyrannical campaign that killed hundreds of protestors in the streets, detained tens of thousands, and led many more into exile.
According to Human Rights Watch reports, the military dictatorship in Egypt "has sent thousands of civilians to military courts, undermined the judiciary's independence, and executed dozens of people following flawed trials." Many detainees suffer from enforced disappearance where their families don't know their whereabouts for months or years, according to Amnesty International reports.
El Hatk ("The Assault") is a movie depicting the trauma faced by men and women in Egypt by a ruthless dictatorship.
About ECCD: The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) is a politically independent, non-affiliated pan Canadian organization that advocates for democracy and human rights in Egypt. The ECCD has chapters in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.
For more information:
E-mail: info@eccd.ca
Phone: Sherif Elkholy: (613) 867-0075