Mohamed Fahmy‘s brother is criticizing the Canadian government for what he deems inaction in securing the journalist’s release from an Egyptian prison, but Canadian officials say they’ve been raising the case consistently with Egyptian officials.
In a statement to Global News Wednesday, a spokesperson for the minister responsible for consular cases said Canada is “deeply concerned that despite assurances from the Egyptian Government that Mohamed Fahmy was about to be released, a retrial has now been announced.”
“Canadian officials raised the case of Mohamed Fahmy with Egyptian officials 15 times in the last nine days. We understand this is an upsetting time for the family. We continue to call for Mohamed Fahmy’s immediate release.”
The Al-Jazeera journalist has been in Cairo’s Tora prison for more than 400 days. He now faces a retrial, set to begin Thursday. His lawyers have had just days to prepare.
READ MORE: Fahmy’s fiancée blasts Harper, says imprisonment ‘embarrassment’ for Canada
Harper has reached out to Egypt’s president to try to win his release, but the Prime Minister’s Office won’t say when he communicated with Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, or what was said.
Sherif Fahmy said in a written statement to Global News that Canada has had many “golden opportunities” to pressure the Egyptian government for his brother’s release.
“What Harper is doing since day one of this case is shameful,” writes Sherif. “As I said on Mohamed’s twitter “Lesson learned! If you are a Canadian abroad and got into trouble, you are on your own.”
He says initially the Canadian government told the family it could not get involved due to Mohamed’s joint Canadian-Egyptian nationality. Mohamed has since relinquished his Egyptian citizenship, an effort to pave the way for release. A new decree gives Egypt’s president the power to deport foreigners convicted or accused of crimes.
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Australian Peter Greste, a colleague of Fahmy, was released from prison Feb. 1. Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott is said to have called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi directly, urging Greste’s release.
Sherif claims the Canadian embassy in Egypt has at times failed to file the correct paperwork in his brother’s case, in one instance preventing the family from attending a court session. Foreign affairs did not respond directly to that claim, again referring to the government’s repeated efforts to gain Fahmy’s release.
READ MORE: Timeline: Egypt’s jailing of 3 Al-Jazeera English journalists
Mohamed, 40, was born in Egypt but moved with his family to Canada in 1991, resulting in dual citizenship.
“We have the support of the majority of the Canadian people and that’s what we care about,” said Sherif. “I trust that the Canadians will not accept the fact that my brother could be left behind.”
A campaign encouraging people to show support for Fahmy, using the hashtag “HarperCallEgypt” has been gaining momentum.
Lawyer Amal Clooney wrote a letter to Harper Feb. 8, encouraging him to intervene and directly contact Sisi. The letter states “this injustice must not be allowed to persist.”
Clooney writes that like Australia’s prime minister, Harper must act.
“There are indications that the lack of such intervention may be preventing a successful outcome. Currently discussions are taking place at lower-than ministerial level on this file, which is not appropriate given the urgency of the matter today.”
“I urge you to contact the Egyptian President and speak up for your citizen today,” Clooney’s letter concludes.
Fahmy’s retrial begins Thursday in Cairo.
With files from The Canadian Press
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