Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to all of you so much for this opportunity.
I want to thank Mr. Mario Silva for working with me and for coming with me to Afghanistan. It was a brave action you took by coming all the way with me to Afghanistan, and I thank you for that.
Mr. Chair, I came here to Canada eight years ago. As I mentioned to Madame Deschamps, I was tortured back home in Egypt. I know what these 25 are going through. I still have my scars under my suit. Don't let the suit fool you. I still have my scars under my suit. I know the torture and the persecution these people are facing every single day.
We have the opportunity to do something. Don't make this another committee meeting. Don't make this another hour that you just come and you listen and you leave and you get busy in your normal life. Let's do something to help these people.
I came here to Canada, and I believe in Canadian values. I do believe that Canada is the temple of human rights and the conscience of our world. I do believe this. When I accepted citizenship, I knew that I was a citizen of a great country, a great nation.
What I really need is to help these people. What I really desire is to free these prisoners and do something to help them. I was one of them one day. And I know that if we fail, we will fail the Afghani people. I know that if we fail, we will fail 152 Canadian soldiers who spilled their blood on the ground of Afghanistan for their freedom.
There is a time for the oppressed when dark becomes their only colour. Silence becomes their language. And tears and crying from the pain and the persecution becomes their national anthem. This day, we can stop this circle. We can stop this circle.
I thank you for your time, and I appreciate your hard work.
God bless you.