Ehab Lotayef

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Ehab Lotayef
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Alma materAin Shams University
Occupation
  • Poets
  • Writers
  • Community Activists

Ehab Lotayef is a Canadian of Egyptian origin who is known for his work as a poet, writer, and community activist. He has been deeply involved in social and community work, as well as human rights activism campaigning for the freedom of Canadian hostages in Iraq[1], opposing the blockade of Gaza[2], and against the 2013 military coup in Egypt[3]. Lotayef has also founded and chaired several organizations, including Muslim Awareness Week[4] and the Non a la loi 21[5] (against Bill 21) campaign. As a poet and writer, he has published a bilingual poetry collection and has had his play produced by CBC[6]. Lotayef currently serves on the board of the Quebec Writers Federation[7].

Early life and education

Lotayef , who was born and raised in Egypt, obtained his Electrical Engineering degree from Ain-Shams University in Cairo in 1981. In 1989, he relocated to Canada.[8]

Career

Since 1999, Lotayef has held the position of IT manager at McGill University.[9] Prior to his tenure at McGill, Lotayef gained professional experience with several international companies such as Schlumberger, Linotype, and Pratt & Whitney, both in Canada and abroad.[10]

Community Leadership

Lotayef is a prominent community leader in Montreal through his service and involvement in various community organizations. He has served as a board member for several organizations, including the Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy[11], where he served as President[12], the Muslim Council of Montreal, the Canadian Arab Federation, where he was Vice President, and Fair Vote Canada.

Lotayef has also made contributions to the academic community as a member of the Board of Governors of McGill University[13].

He has also served on the Board of Montreal City Mission[14], an organization dedicated to supporting marginalized communities and empowering individuals through education and social programs.

Resignation from McGill University Board of Directors

In May 2021, Lotayef resigned from his position on the Board of Governors at McGill University due to the board's refusal to consider a motion supporting racial justice.[13] The motion had requested that the university issue a written statement on equity and inclusiveness to commemorate its 200th anniversary. The university stated that it had already implemented an equity plan and was addressing issues of anti-Black racism.

Lotayef expressed that he takes his resignation from the McGill University Board of Governors seriously and deeply to heart, as he had joined the board with the intention of achieving more for the McGill community and the university.[15]

Muslim Awareness Week

Lotayef is the chairman of Muslim Awareness Week, an event organized annually on the anniversary of the tragic mosque shooting in Quebec City, Canada.[16] On January 29, 2017, six worshippers were killed and 19 were injured when a gunman opened fire during evening prayers at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre.

Muslim Awareness Week is intended to build bridges between communities and promote greater understanding and empathy. The event brings together people of different faiths and backgrounds to learn about the Muslim community.[17]

Non a la loi 21 Campaign

Lotayef serves as the campaign coordinator for Non à la Loi 21, a movement that advocates against a controversial piece of legislation that was passed in Quebec, Canada. Bill 21 prohibits certain public sector employees, including teachers, police officers, and judges, from wearing religious symbols while on the job. The campaign in 2019 aims to distribute 10,000 anti-Bill 21 buttons.[18]

Activism

Community Peacemakers Teams (CPT) Hostage Crisis

The Christian Peacemaker hostage crisis occurred in November 2005[19] when four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), two of which were Canadian, were kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq.[20] The hostages were held for 118 days before being rescued by multinational forces in March 2006.

Lotayef was a prominent figure in the Canadian Islamic Congress, an organization that aimed to promote and protect the rights of Muslims in Canada. He was chosen as a delegate envoy to travel to Iraq to advocate for the release of the hostages.[1]

Gaza Blockade, Freedom Flotilla and Canadian Boat to Gaza

In 2011, Lotayef was part of a group that organized a flotilla called the Tahrir of Canada with the aim of breaking the blockade on Gaza by sailing from Turkey.[21] However, Israel intercepted the flotilla and Lotayef was detained for seven days.[22]

The blockade on Gaza had been in place since 2007, and it had restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of the region. The flotilla organizers believed that the blockade was illegal and causing immense suffering to the people of Gaza. In 2010, during the interception of a flotilla, Israeli forces boarded the ships, leading to violence and chaos, and causing several injuries and deaths.[23]

Since his release from detention after the Gaza-bound flotilla incident in 2011, Lotayef has been an active advocate against the blockade of Gaza by Israel.[24]

Freedom March to Gaza

Lotayef played a key role in organizing the Gaza Freedom March in Cairo in March 2009.[25] The march was a non-violent demonstration of solidarity with the people of Gaza and aimed to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli blockade.[26]

The Gaza Freedom March was organized by a coalition of international activists and organizations. However, the Egyptian government, denied the marchers entry into Gaza.

In 2010 Lotayef signed the Gaza Freedom Marchers “Cairo Declaration”[27] to end Israeli apartheid which called for Palestinian self-determination, an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, equal rights for all people in historic Palestine, and the full right of return for Palestinian refugees.[28]

Citizens' Rights Movement

In 2021 Lotayef, as president of the Citizens' Rights Movement,[29] spoke out against an attack on a mosque in Quebec. The attack, which occurred in April of that year, targeted the Centre Communautaire Islamique Assahaba in Montreal, and was condemned by many community groups.[30]

Lotayef, along with other community leaders, called on the Quebec government and Premier Legault to denounce the attack and to take action to protect religious minorities from hate crimes and discrimination.

Poetry

Lotayef is a poet who uses his poetry as an effective means of human rights and political advocacy. He has published numerous collections of poetry in both English, French and Arabic. He is a member of the Quebec Writers federation.[7]

Lotayef's poetry often explores themes of social justice, equality, and human rights, drawing on his personal experiences as an activist and organizer.

  • His poetry book To Love a Palestinian Woman was published by TSAR in 2010[31]
  • His poetry also appeared in anthologies and zines[32]
  • CBC produced his play "Crossing Gibraltar" in 2006[33]
  • He also produces song lyrics[34]

Presence in the media

Lotayef is also a regular contributor to the media on issues of human rights and social justice.

He has written on local social justice issues such as in La Press on Muslim Awareness Week[35], in the Huffington Post on the conflation of antisemitism and student politics[36], the erosion of Quebec charter rights[37], Quebec elections[38], and the appointment of Canada's Special Representative on Islamophobia in Policy Options[39].

He has also written on international human rights issues such as in the Huffington Post on Canada's foreign policy to Egypt[40], the 2013 military coup[41], and on Gaza in the National Post[42].

He is regular contributor to Rabble[43] and ricochet[44].

He has been interviewed by television and radio programs as well.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Saturday deadline looms for Iraq hostages". The Globe and Mail. 2005-12-09. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  2. ↑ "Newsmaker: Ehab Lotayef, tried to break Gaza Strip blockade". Montreal. 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  3. ↑ "Why I Am Against the Military Coup in Egypt". HuffPost. 2013-08-22. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  4. ↑ "Breaking bread: Synagogue to host Shabbat dinner with Muslim neighbours". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  5. ↑ "Campaign against Quebec's Bill 21 to launch". Montreal. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  6. ↑ "Where is Here? by Damiano Pietropaolo - McNally Robinson Booksellers". www.mcnallyrobinson.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Lotayef, Ehab – Quebec Writers' Federation". qwf.org. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  8. ↑ "Ehab Lotayef". www.salondulivredemontreal.com (in français). Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  9. ↑ "Ehab Lotayef". Electrical and Computer Engineering. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  10. ↑ "Linkedin - Ehab Lotayef". Linkedin. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  11. ↑ "Canada urged to condemn Egyptian minister's remarks saying critics will be 'sliced up'". The Globe and Mail. 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  12. ↑ Alsaafin, Linah. "Egypt pushes interests as it brokers Palestinian talks". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Anger, dismay at McGill as board of governors blocks racial justice motion". CBC. May 18, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Staff and Board of Directors | Montreal City Mission | Montreal, Canada". MCM. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  15. ↑ "CityNews". montreal.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  16. ↑ "Breaking bread: Synagogue to host Shabbat dinner with Muslim neighbours". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  17. ↑ "Opinion: A cry for unity as Muslim Awareness Week begins". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  18. ↑ "Campaign against Quebec's Bill 21 to launch". Montreal. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  19. ↑ "Two Canadians held hostage in Iraq A timeline". CBC. March 27, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ Hannon, Gerald (2011-03-23). "One hundred and eighteen days: the harrowing tale of James Loney, a Toronto man kidnapped in Iraq". Toronto Life. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  21. ↑ "Flotilla Organizers to Haaretz: We Expect to Reach Gaza in Two Days". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  22. ↑ "Newsmaker: Ehab Lotayef, tried to break Gaza Strip blockade". Montreal. 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  23. ↑ Staff, the CNN Wire (2011-11-04). "Israeli military boards Gaza-bound aid ships". CNN. Retrieved 2023-04-14. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  24. ↑ "Ehab Lotayef: Why we set sail to Gaza". nationalpost. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  25. ↑ "Gaza Freedom March perseveres". Egypt Independent. 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  26. ↑ "Gaza Freedom March: 'Our Work Will Not End Tonight'". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  27. ↑ Murphy, Maureen Clare (2010-01-04). "Gaza Freedom Marchers issue the "Cairo Declaration" to end Israeli apartheid". The Electronic Intifada. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  28. ↑ "Gaza Freedom March: Declaration from Cairo". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  29. ↑ Lotayef, Saskia de Boer, Stefan Christoff and Ehab (2021-03-21). "Opinion: The erosion of the Quebec Charter is an attack on our values". Montreal. Retrieved 2023-04-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ "Community groups call on Premier Legault to denounce attack on mosque". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  31. ↑ "To Love a Palestinian Woman". Mawenzi House Publishers. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  32. ↑ "Leonard Cohen: You're Our Man". Goodreads. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  33. ↑ "Where is Here? by Damiano Pietropaolo - McNally Robinson Booksellers". www.mcnallyrobinson.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  34. ↑ Al Qahwa - Footsteps - Music by Maryem Tollar, Lyrics by Ehab Lotayef, retrieved 2023-04-14
  35. ↑ "Musulmans : voir au-delà des apparences". La Presse+ (in français). 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  36. ↑ "Don't Conflate McGill Student Politics With Anti-Semitism". HuffPost. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  37. ↑ "Une attaque contre nos valeurs". La Presse+ (in français). 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  38. ↑ "How Quebec Has Turned My Vote Religious". HuffPost. 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  39. ↑ Chiu, May; Drimonis, Toula; February 17, Ehab Lotayef Originally published on Policy Options; 2023. "Amira Elghawaby is victim of a double standard". Policy Options. Retrieved 2023-04-14. {{cite web}}: |first3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ↑ "Canada's Stance On Venezuela Is Undermined By Its Support For Egypt". HuffPost. 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  41. ↑ "Why I Am Against the Military Coup in Egypt". HuffPost. 2013-08-22. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  42. ↑ "Ehab Lotayef: Why we set sail to Gaza". nationalpost. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  43. ↑ "Ehab Lotayef". rabble.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  44. ↑ "Ehab Lotayef". Ricochet. Retrieved 2023-04-14.

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