2/22/19

Feb 2019: An Egyptian Canadian citizen disappears in Egypt

There have been many cases of forced disappearances upon arrival to Egypt of Egyptians living abroad with no political activity, who haven't even been in the country for so long. Meanwhile, there is little to no reporting whatsoever in the countries where these people have immigrated, succeeded, and invested their lives and souls in.

The most recent case we came across is about Egyptian Canadian citizen Yasser Ahmed Albaz, an active leader in the Muslim community in Canada. We are sharing this message from his daughter's page, Amal Al Baz, a young woman poet.

https://www.facebook.com/amalahmedalbaz/

URGENT UPDATE ON YASSER AHMED (ALBAZ)
February 22, 2019


"Yasser Ahmed (Albaz) Detained By Egyptian Authorities

On Monday our family was horror-struck when our loved one, Yasser Albaz, disappeared in the Cairo International Airport by Egyptian authorities.

Yasser had traveled to Egypt in December for business purposes. However, while leaving Egypt to return home to Canada, as he was passing through passport control, he was pulled aside. Before losing communication he informed our family that he was pulled aside by passport control as his name was flagged for additional clearance. His last message was to a friend telling him that he was taken by Egypt’s state security.

The case has been reported to Global Affairs Canada and our family is in regular communication with consular authorities.

The Egyptian government denied detaining Yasser for days. It remains unclear why he is being unlawfully detained by Egyptian state security. It remains unknown when or if he will be released. And most critically, there is great concern around the condition of his detention and if he is being treated according to international human rights laws. Our family is gravely concerned for his safety and his life.

We hope our Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, will immediately contact the Egyptian government to resolve this matter and bring Yasser home to his wife, children, and grandchildren.

We are grateful to everyone who has reached out and offered support. Yasser is a well respected community leader and Canadian who has dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. 
Our family calls for community members to contact their Member of Parliament, express concern and request that the Minister of Foreign Affairs intervene and ensure his safe return home to Canada."
 
Nosayba Ahmed, an Egyptian woman in the US responded to the post saying: 

This happened to my parents too and they stayed under enforced disappearance for 22 days and now they are detained in different prisons on false charges, they took my sister who was dropping them off too and she stayed for 22 days under #enforceddisappearance too and they released her at 2 AM on the streets and told her to go home after they took her phone, car and money, I hope this doesn't happen to your brother and I'm praying that he is reunited with his family soon, we live a nightmare that we would never imagine happening in our life, my parents were coming to visit their daughters and grandchildren in the US where we live and they have visited many countries before, the sisi regime is criminal!

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