By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – On Sunday, two Canadians were prevented from flying out of Egypt after their names appeared on a “stop-list” issued by prosecutors. Earlier that morning, the two were released from prison after being held for fifty-one days without charges.

John Greyson, a Toronto filmmaker and York University professor, and Tarek Loubani, a physician from London, Ontario, were arrested during a violent protest  in Ramses Square in Cairo. The two Canadians claim that, during the violence, Loubani stopped to help wounded protesters while Greyson videotaped. The men have said they witnessed at least fifty demonstrators killed and after leaving the protest they were beaten and arrested.

On Monday, the Canadians’  lawyer Marwa Farouk filed an application with the Prosecutor General to have the travel ban lifted. The application claimed that the investigation lacks any substantial evidence and that Greyson and Loubani should be allowed to return home.

Greyson’s sister, Cecilla, was optimistic about the their release and said that Canadian consular officials were dealing the “red tape.”

“Until they are safely back in Canada we are just going to be a little bit on edge,” she said. “We’ve had contact with them throughout the day today. We’re relieved they are out of prison. We’re immensely encouraged by that.”

Despite the optimism, CBC Middle East Correspondent Saša Petricic  reported that “it’s not just a question of red tape as we were led to believe originally.” The investigation of the two Canadians is considered on going and they will not be allowed to leave until it is over.

“If that needs to run its course, it could be a very long wait even though they are now in a hotel room instead of a jail cell,” added Petricic.

Greyson and Loubani have alleged that while in prison they were subject to physical abuse and degrading treatment at the hands of their Egyptian captors. The pair also said they were kept in cramped, filthy, and cockroach infested cells.

Spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, has publicly denied that the Canadians had suffered any mistreatment. He also stated that it is standard penal procedure to prevent individuals under investigation from leaving the country. The ministry also added that the Canadians were formally charged under Egyptian penal code, but only the prosecution has the right to announce formal charges and has refrained from doing so.

For further information, please see:

CBC News – John Greyson, Tarek Loubani may not be free to leave Egypt – 7 October 2013

Daily News Egypt – Canadians banned from travel, case still open –  7 October 2013

Al Jazeera – Freed Canadians barred from leaving Egypt – 6 October 2013

Guardian – Egypt: released Canadians prevent from leaving the country – 6 October 2013