In a surprise middle-of-the-night move, Egyptian authorities have released Canadian detainees Tarek Loubani and John Greyson after nearly 50 days in an overcrowded, cockroach-infested cell in Cairo.
“They just came to their cell and said, ‘Come with us,’ ” said Loubani’s brother Mohammed in a phone interview with the Star. “They had no idea what was happening until they arrived at the police station. They were stunned.”
He said Loubani and Greyson were resting in a Cairo hotel after their release.
Greyson’s sister, Cecilia Greyson, tweeted “Christmas has come early” upon getting the happy news late Saturday night Toronto time and thanked all those who worked for their release.
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In Ottawa, Consular Affairs Minister Lynne Yelich welcomed the two men’s release in a statement: “I look forward to Dr. Loubani and Mr. Greyson being reunited with their families and friends who have shown tremendous strength during this difficult time.”
Loubani, an emergency room physician from London, Ont., and Greyson, a Toronto filmmaker, were arrested Aug. 16 during a stopover in Cairo while en route to Gaza, where Loubani was to teach medical students while Greyson film the project.
At it happened, Cairo was experiencing the height of violence as supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi clashed with Egyptian security forces, and it was amid that bloody chaos that they were arrested at a police checkpoint.
Mohammed Loubani said that Tarek’s father — also a Canadian physician — travelled to Egypt and met with an aide to the interior minister, who visited the detained men in Tora prison.
“The aide was very gracious and talked about misunderstandings, so we were somewhat hopeful,” said Loubani.
But, he added, “we are being cautious until they are actually out of Egypt.”
Their passports and other documentation, seized at the time of their arrest, must be returned before they can leave the country.
“(Tarek) sounded well, but a little bit groggy,” his brother said.
He said the two men were “very unaware” that their case had received widespread publicity and that more than 100,000 people signed petitions calling for their release.
A week ago, friends and family had been getting fearful when Egyptian authorities extended the pair’s detention for another 45 days. Up until then, their detention had been extended three times, but each time for only 15 days.
That extension came a day after the pair, who only received consular visits, released a statement through family in Canada about the brutal conditions in which they were being held.
“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,” their statement read.
The case has caused embarrassment in the divided interim Egyptian government. But the country is still in a state of unrest, with tensions running high between supporters and foes of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which was banned during the summer. The government has said it will rescind power in the spring, following new elections.
Yelich said that she and Foreign Minister John Baird “are facilitating (their) departure from Egypt, and Canadian officials will continue to offer consular services to them and their families as needed.”
Greyson and Loubani are expected to return to Canada as soon as their papers are in order.
“Tarek will not be going to Gaza,” said Mohammed Loubani.