Press Release:
Egyptian Canadians are overjoyed to welcome home Yasser Albaz, and thank PM Trudeau and his team for having taken decisive steps for his release.
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Ottawa, July 3rd, 2020
The Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD) welcomes the release of Yasser Albaz and his safe return home after more than a year of arbitrary detention in Egypt.
"We are very happy that Yasser is finally home with his family," said Ahmed Abdelkader, president of ECCD.
We applaud the intervention of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his team for having diligently advocated for Yasser's liberation and asked for his immediate return to Canada. PM Trudeau's intervention came at a critical time as Yasser's health was deteriorating and his family was fearing for his life.
"Prime Minister Trudeau clearly understood the urgency of the situation with Yasser showing worrisome health symptoms and no hope for proper care in Egypt's prisons. We are grateful to our government for finally putting pressure on the Egyptian regime to release him," added Abdelkader.
Human Rights advocates have repeatedly warned that the condition in which political prisoners are held in Egypt is tantamount to torture. Some have described the lack of medical care as being a slow form of execution. "The plight of political prisoners in Egypt remains dire." Abdelkader continued.
As we rejoice for the liberation of Yasser, our hearts go to the families of the estimated 60,000 other political detainees in Egypt.
We exhort our government to speak up clearly and act decisively for the freedom and civil rights, and due process for all political prisoners
For more information:
E-mail: info@eccd.ca
Phone: Sherif Elkholy: (613) 867-0075