Day of Concern rally today for two Canadians in Egyptian jail

On Sept. 26 at 12:30pm, York President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri will join other members of the York University community in front of Vari Hall to speak out for the release of John Greyson and Tarek Loubani from an Egyptian jail. Greyson and Loubani have been held in the prison without charges for nearly six weeks. They are now into their second week of a hunger strike.

Greyson is popular and highly respected film professor at York and renowned director. Dr Tarek Loubani is an emergency room doctor in London, Ontario, and a professor at Western University. In attempting to reach Gaza through Egypt, they found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, and were arbitrarily arrested.

The York University Faculty Association (YUFA) has organized a Day of Concern to voice the deep concern from all parts of the University that these men should be released immediately. Other speakers will be Faculty of Environmental Studies Professor Justin Podor, a friend of Greyson; Professor Brenda Longfellow, Greyson’s colleague in the film department; and one of Greyson’s students.

Throughout the day leaflets, posters, and buttons will be distributed in Vari Hall to encourage York’s faculty, students, and staff to send a flood of messages to Canadian and Egyptian government officials.

john-and-tarekJohn Greyson (left) and Dr. Tarek Loubani have been in prison in Egypt since Aug. 16. No charges have been laid or reason given for their ongoing detention.

Also on display will be a video made by a group of Greyson’s students, who wanted others to appreciate what a remarkable contribution he has made to York and its film program.

At 3:30pm the Faculty of Environmental Studies will show one of Greyson’s recent films – Proteus. The screening will take place in Room 283 in the Health, Nursing & Environmental Studies Building on the Keele campus.

For further information on Greyson and Loubani’s situation, visit the Free Tarek and John website. For further information on the event at Vari Hall, contact Professor Craig Heron, YUFA’s vice-president external, at cheron@yorku.ca.