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To: François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs

François-Philippe Champagne: Demand release of human rights defenders in Egypt

Last week, three prominent human rights defenders were arrested in Egypt following a meeting on November 3 with Western diplomats, including the Canadian Chargé d’Affaires to Egypt. Despite international condemnation, they remain detained on spurious charges, in solitary confinement, and are likely to face torture.

Concerted pressure from the international community could be enough to pressure the Egyptian government to release them. Please send an email to Minister of Foreign Affairs, François-Philippe Champagne calling for him to ask Egypt to release the detained human rights defenders.

Why is this important?

As a group of Canadians who care about the protection of human rights defenders, we are calling on the Government to put pressure on Egypt to end the escalating crackdown on human rights defenders and immediately release Mr. Razek, Mr. Basheer, and Mr. Ennarah.

Canada’s commitment to international human rights carries with it an obligation to protect the human rights defenders who work with Canadian counterparts toward that goal. Canada must be accountable for its participation in the November 3 meeting with EIPR and must take action to work for the release of those detained as a result. Canada must join in sending the message that human rights work is not a crime.

Updates

2021-04-13 22:15:13 -0400

500 signatures reached

2020-11-30 10:20:48 -0500

100 signatures reached

2020-11-26 18:24:23 -0500

50 signatures reached

2020-11-26 12:48:00 -0500

25 signatures reached

2020-11-26 09:46:59 -0500

10 signatures reached