SDIR Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met by videoconference at 1:08 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Scott Reid, presiding.

Nabil Malek and Ashraf Ramelah by videoconference from Allentown, Pennsylvania, made statements and answered questions.

On motion of Irwin Cotler, it was agreed, — That, whereas 26-year old Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil was one of the leaders in Tahrir Square and the launching of the Egyptian spring;

Whereas Mr. Nabil initially supported the notion that the Egyptian “army and the people are of one hand” but later stated they were “not of one hand” and for this he was charged with “insulting the Egyptian military”;

Whereas Mr. Nabil was convicted in a sham trial devoid of due process by a military tribunal and was sentenced to three years in prison;

Whereas Mr. Nabil became one of the first political prisoners in the post-Mubarak era for exercising rights protected under Egyptian law;

Whereas Mr. Nabil defended minority rights – that of the Christian Copt minority of which he is a member – and the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty; and

Whereas Mr. Nabil is on the 82nd day of a hunger strike with his life hanging by a thread;

That the Subcommittee urges the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Maikel Nabil and drop all charges; and

Calls upon the Canadian government to continue to make representations at the highest level with a view to secure his release with all deliberate speed.

At 2:10 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.