Fahmy; supported by 300 prominent Canadians, who request Harper intervene

Mohamed Fahmy‘s case is the subject of a letter signed by 300 notable Canadians and others such as CNN correspondent Christian Amanpour, to Stephen Harper. The letter requests that Stephen Harper intervene directly with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to secure Fahmy’s return to Canada.

Mohamed Fahmy is the Egyptian-Canadian who was arrested in Cairo in 2013 and jailed since. Caught in the changing tides of Egypt’s political scene, Fahmy was then the acting bureau chief for Al Jazeera English. He and two colleagues, Egyptian producer, Baher Mohamed and Australian reporter, Peter Greste, were charged with airing “false news”, working without permits, and supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Shawn McCarthy, a journalist with Canada’s national newpaper, the Globe & Mail, is president of the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom. He says Fahmy’s double citizenship complicated the situation, but he reiterates the plea to Stephen Harper to act.

Greste was deported from Egypt, but Fahmy and Mohamed have been returned to the notorious Tora prison. On Saturday, the three men were convicted, following a lengthy trial that drew international criticism.

Amal Clooney, one of Fahmy’s lawyers, says only “very high level engagement’ will free Mohamed Fahmy.  It is with this in mind that these high profile Canadians signed their names to a letter sent today to Stephen Harper. The letter asks Harper to take “personal and immediate action” to get Fahmy out of Egypt.

“We call on you to make these commitments meaningful in the case of Mr. Fahmy.” 

Former Prime Minister Paul Martin is among the signatories, as is former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, author Michael Ondaatje, Singer Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, scientist David Suzuki, writer John Ralston Saul. and perhaps the other Canadian who can most understand what he is going through, torture victim, Maher Arar.