A Canadian family is hoping the Federal government will pressure Egyptian authorities to release their father after they claim he was detained at Cairo International Airport before boarding a flight back home.

Amal Ahmed said they last heard from her father, Yasser Ahmed, on Monday night when he wrote that he loved them in their WhatsApp family chat.

The 51-year-old, who is a Canadian citizen and runs an engineering company in Oakville, left Canada for a business trip to Egypt back in December. Amal also adds her father sent a final message to a family friend informing them that his luggage was removed from the flight, his passport was confiscated and he was taken by state security who told him his name had been flagged.

“We have no idea why he’s being detained, the only information we know is that Egypt started acknowledging that they had him,” Amal said. “My father is not political whatsoever, he has no political affiliation in Egypt. It’s a shock to all of us.”

The family contacted the emergency line for counselor affairs. There are currently several government issued advisories in place for Egypt, with officials telling Canadians to avoid non-essential travel.

A spokesperson from Global Affairs tells CityNews the government is aware that a Canadian citizen was detained in Egypt.

“Consular services are being provided and officials are in contact with local authorities to obtain more information. Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act, no further information can be disclosed,” said Richard Walker, spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada.

Amal adds that her mother, father and two siblings have traveled to the north African nation frequently and most recently this past summer for a wedding.

“Egypt has been unstable for a couple years now, but we’ve been back and forth and there’s never been a problem or concern for us.”