August 28, 2026

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, P.C., K.C., M.P.
 Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
 Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Minister Metlege Diab,

REDWORD for Human Rights & Freedom of Expression, together with the undersigned press freedom, human rights, academic, and civil society organizations, is writing to request your urgent attention to the refusal of an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for Dr. Hossam Elhamalawy, an Egyptian German journalist, author, political exile, and researcher invited by Simon Fraser University (SFU) to participate in academic and cultural events in Canada.

IRCC refused Dr. Elhamalawy’s eTA application on August 18, 2026, citing non-compliance with a request for information, including police and court records, after he disclosed in the eTA’s form prior arrests in his home country, Egypt, during protests.

Before the refusal, however, Dr. Elhamalawy had provided IRCC with a detailed explanation that obtaining such records from the Egyptian authorities would expose him—or anyone acting on his behalf—to serious risk. He also submitted extensive supporting documentation and offered to provide any reasonably available alternative evidence.

Dr. Elhamalawy’s concerns are well documented. His journalism and political activity resulted in repeated arrests, abuse, threats, and targeting by Egyptian security authorities. Human Rights Watch has documented his history and concluded that he would face grave risk of persecution if returned to Egypt. He was granted asylum in Germany in 2020 and became a German citizen in 2025.

Simon Fraser University has also formally supported his application. In its letter to IRCC, SFU confirmed his invitation, endorsed his explanation regarding the impossibility of safely obtaining Egyptian police records, and urged IRCC to allow his visit to proceed.

This case raises a serious concern: journalists and human rights defenders who have fled persecution should not be placed in a position where participation in legitimate academic and cultural activities in Canada depends on obtaining documents from the very authorities responsible for their persecution.

We fully respect Canada’s immigration and security requirements. We are simply asking that the exceptional and well-documented circumstances of this case be properly considered and that reasonable alternative evidence be accepted where appropriate.

We therefore respectfully ask your office to:

• Bring Dr. Elhamalawy’s case to IRCC’s urgent attention
• Ensure that the evidence explaining why he cannot safely obtain Egyptian police and court records is fully considered
• Allow him an opportunity to provide reasonable alternative documentation
• Facilitate an expedited review and resolution, given the time-sensitive nature of his invitation to Canada

We also respectfully call on the German authorities, including the Federal Foreign Office and the Embassy of Germany in Canada, to seek clarification from the Canadian authorities regarding the grounds for denying an eTA to a German citizen who provided extensive evidence concerning his identity, protection history, and the serious risks associated with obtaining records from the Egyptian authorities. We further urge them to provide Dr. Elhamalawy with appropriate consular support and to engage with their Canadian counterparts to help ensure that his application is reconsidered fairly, promptly, and in light of the exceptional circumstances documented in his submission.

Canada has long been an important space for academic exchange, freedom of expression, and engagement with journalists and human rights defenders. We hope this case can be resolved in a manner consistent with those values and with Canadian law.

We would appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and would be pleased to provide any additional information required.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the undersigned organizations:

• REDWORD for Human Rights & Freedom of Expression
• El Nadeem Centre
• Refugees’ platform in Egypt
• Hounna Platform 
• Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF)
• Sinai Foundation for Human Rights
• Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
• Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) 
• Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC)-Montreal, Quebec
• Free Speech Centre (FSC)
• The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)

Individual Signatures:

• Mostafa Al-A’sar, Toronto-based journalist and Executive Director of REDWORD
• Wendie Nelson, Canadian citizen concerned about the protection of human rights
• Mostafa Fouad, Executive Director, HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
• Haroon Khalid
• Marjory Lang, West Vancouver, retired historian
• David Johnstone, Librarian (retired) West Vancouver
• Sid Ryan: Former President, Ontario Federation of Labour
• Judy Rebick: Feminist, author, and journalist
• Dr. Greg Albo: Professor, Department of Politics, York University
• Ehab Lotayef: Board Member, Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy (ECCD)
• Ibrahim Alsahary-Community organizer Immigrant Workers Centre
• Najib Asil, founder and executive director, Free Speech Centre (FSC)
• Jill Tolliday, Vancouver
• Basma Mostafa, Director of Programs, Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF)