March 3, 2021

Winnipeg
-12° C, A few clouds

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Winnipeg Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
Opinion Editorials

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

There's a time and place for bullhorn diplomacy

Posted: 5:48 PM CDT Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy addresses a news conference hosted by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression at Ryerson University in Toronto, Tuesday, Oct.13, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

CP

Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy addresses a news conference hosted by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression at Ryerson University in Toronto, Tuesday, Oct.13, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/10/2015 (1966 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Editorial

Mohamed Fahmy says that while he was sitting in his insect-infested cell in Egypt, facing years of imprisonment and nursing a broken shoulder, he had to believe the Canadian government was working behind the scenes to get him out.

Faith was about all he had. In other countries, presidents and prime ministers complain loudly and clearly for citizens detained or convicted in foreign countries whose legal systems make a mockery of justice. In contrast, the Canadian approach to human rights abuses has seemed more like deferential, polite requests for attention to a tiresome diplomatic hassle.

Mr. Fahmy, formerly Al-Jazeera’s Cairo bureau chief, is back in Canada, finally being pardoned late last month for a trumped-up treason charge: broadcasting false news in favour of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. He is still wondering what, if anything, Canada’s highest political offices did to help win his freedom.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott won the release of Peter Greste, who was convicted alongside Mr. Fahmy, by persistently and repeatedly phoning Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Understandably, Canadians expected Prime Minister Stephen Harper to follow suit. Instead, a series of letters were sent, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The Harper government rejects what it calls "bullhorn" diplomacy, preferring to rely on cabinet ministers and consular staff to work quietly behind the scenes.

And so while former foreign affairs minister John Baird last year listed things that complicated intervention for Mr. Fahmy — dual citizenship; the fact Egypt had a hate-on for Al-Jazeera — Canadians were left to watch others in other countries let loose on the farce of justice that was playing out. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and then-UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay condemned Egypt’s actions as chilling, draconian and a travesty.

Canadians, now, are still no further ahead in understanding what triggered Mr. Fahmy’s release, along with a third colleague. The pardons, made for a number of prisoners convicted for protests, came a day before Mr. el-Sissi’s trip to the UN General Assembly.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

Mr. Fahmy has gone public now. He insists he is not being partisan in publicly thanking the support of opposition leaders and criticizing the Harper government, but he stressed he knows who he is not voting for Oct. 19. When told Mr. Harper did intervene, he said he wanted to know more.

And that’s the point: why should the government be so opaque in its work for Canadians whose human rights and freedoms have been trampled by repressive regimes?

There are other Canadians awaiting rescue. The release of Huseyin Celil, the Canadian arrested in Uzbekistan by China and sentenced to life in prison in 2007, was once prominently on Mr. Harper’s bilateral relations to-do list, but the man now wastes away in obscurity.

Canadians are left to conclude their government prefers to tiptoe around difficult diplomatic relations with friendly foreign states, or as in the case of China, powerful trade allies.

That puts the Harper government out of step with the "bullhorn" appeals other democratic nations make for their nationals, with comparative success. It also means those detained, tortured and under threat in countries where the rule of law has an entirely different meaning rot in silence.

Mr. Fahmy is justified in wondering why he had to rely on faith, alone, in that Egyptian cell. Canadians, too, deserve some transparency. And a little more volume out of their government when the human rights of fellow citizens are trampled by authoritarian regimes.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Editorials are the consensus view of the Winnipeg Free Press’ editorial board.

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top