Whereas:

A Canadian citizen was detained from June 2024 to April 2025 in Al-Sadr State Security Prison in Abu Dhabi, UAE;

While detained, he was denied life-saving medical care, including insulin for diabetes and blood sugar and pressure monitoring, a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, and PTSD medication; he was also left without a blanket or mattress for months, despite the Canadian Embassy being aware of his condition and despite him leaving over 320 distress voicemail messages pleading for urgent medical intervention and consular support;

As a result, he suffered prolonged medical neglect, trauma, anxiety, and long-term psychological harm;

He continues to face serious financial hardship due to lost income and debt accrued during detention and recovery;

These events may violate Canada’s duty of care under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963, Article 5), which obligates states to protect the interests and well-being of their nationals abroad, including providing help in cases of distress, detention, and medical emergencies;

These events may also contravene Article 16 of the Convention Against Torture, which prohibits acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment and requires that detainees receive access to necessary medical care while in custody.

The added text is (despite the Canadian Embassy being aware of his condition and despite him leaving over 320 distress voicemail messages pleading for urgent medical intervention and consular support;)

we, the undersigned, residents and citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: ”
1- Launch a public inquiry into the Embassy’s inaction during this detention;

2- Provide financial compensation from the Canadian government and the UAE authorities for the harm suffered;

3-Implement policy reform and systematic change within the Canadian embassy system to ensure no other Canadian suffers abroad.