Canada calls on Egypt to release two citizens held in custody

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called on Egypt to release two of his country’s citizens, a doctor and a company director, who have been detained by the authorities in Cairo for 45 days. Harper said that the Egyptian government should release Dr Tarek Alloubani and Mr John Grayson immediately because of the “lack of evidence against them”.

Grayson from Toronto and Alloubani from Ontario were arrested on August 16 during demonstrations in front of Al-Fateh Mosque in Ramses Street, Cairo when supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi faced members of the opposition. Dozens were killed in the subsequent clashes.

The two Canadians have been charged, along with another 600 people, with setting fire to a police station and inciting violence. Grayson was in Cairo preparing for a documentary about Gaza while Alloubani wanted to join a mission to train Palestinian doctors from the beleaguered territory.