Ghosts is the story of three Arab-Canadian men who, over a three year period, were detained and tortured in Syria and Egypt, with the complicity of their own government. Abdullah Almalki was detained for 22 months in Syria. Muayyed Nureddin was detained for 33 days in Syria. Ahman Abou-Elmaati was detained for 2 months in Syria and 24 months in Egypt. In the film, we hear each man’s personal story, describing the circumstances of his capture and detention. Upon their release each man returned to Canada seeking answers as to why they were detained. They also share how the experience of kidnap and torture changed their lives and the lives of their families forever.
In 2006, the Canadian government established the Iacobucci Internal Inquiry to investigate the three cases, conducted by retired judge Frank Iacobucci and held behind closed doors.
On May 1, 2008, a group of people set out on a caravan from Toronto to Ottawa to raise awareness about the Canadian government’s complicity in torture and to try and get some answers about these cases. The caravan included school teachers, human rights activists and the three men who were detained. The group wanted the findings of the Iacobucci Inquiry to be open to the public. The caravan made stops at RCMP Headquarters, CSIS and the Prime Minister’s Office. They tried to get representatives to talk to them, but all we see in the film are people peering out of office windows at the participants from behind their window blinds.
Abdullah, Muayyed and Ahman shared their stories with Canadians in libraries, community centres, churches and high schools. The warmth of high school students and community members along the way provided the three men with hope and inspiration to continue their journey.
When the detainees delivered a petition to the PMO, though media was out in full force, there was a chilling silence the next day as it went unreported.
Ghosts follows the three men for a year and a half as they try to leave the horror of torture behind them and get an apology. This powerful and intimate documentary conveys the fragile balance between democracy, human rights and national security.
Classified for younger audiences. No membership required.
Discussion to follow with:
David Eby
Executive Director,
BC Civil Liberties Association
David Eby is the 33 year old Executive Director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the youngest member of Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50. An adjunct professor of law at the University of British Columbia and the President of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, David is a lawyer who specializes in human rights work. “Justice is the value we give to the rights of others.”
Director's biography
Morvary Samaré was born in Tehran, Iran and raised in Sweden. She received her MA in Political Science from the University of Lund in Sweden, where she also studied International Politics, Economics and Russian Film at the undergraduate level. Before moving on to further film studies at the European Film College in Denmark, Samaré took summer courses at the London Drama School. She is currently working as a producer, director and sound-editor for Ramz Media – a Scandinavian production company making documentaries focusing on universal human rights.
David Eby
