Canadians Tarek Loubani (left) and John Greyson (right) have been in Egyptian prison since Aug. 16.

HAMILTON (CUP) — Two Canadian professors, Tarek Loubani and John Greyson, are waiting to be released from a Cairo prison, where they have been held for more than two weeks without formal charges being laid. Their detainment has sparked a public outcry calling for their immediate release.

Greyson, a professor of film at York University in Toronto, and Loubani, a professor of medicine at Western University in London, Ont., were on their way to a Gaza hospital when they were detained in Cairo on Aug. 16. The Canadians, along with nine others detained on the same day, face serious allegations including threatening national security.

Their emergency contact Justin Podur confirmed on Saturday, Aug. 31, that the two men and Canadian embassy officials have met with Egypt’s prosecutor. Their initial meeting had been cancelled, prolonging the men’s detainment. A decision is expected to be returned within days.

“The prosecutor said he’s waiting for additional information in their investigation,” Podur said on Saturday. “We’re fairly confident they’ll be released in a few days but there’s always a chance it could go wrong.”

Loubani and Greyson’s detainment has incited widespread public support. An online petition to raise awareness and help free the two men has reached 100,000 signatures. Several universities including Western, York, the University of Toronto, and University of Guelph, have issued statements in support of the professors’ safe return.

Former York University film students have put out a video pushing for Greyson and Loubani’s release. Alexis Mitchell, who considers Greyson a mentor, said she last saw Greyson at dinner the night before his departure and was shaken to learn of his detainment through Facebook two weeks ago.

“We were hoping we wouldn’t have to put [the video] up. We thought it would be something nice to give to John when he came back,” Mitchell said.

The students’ video, “Free John and Tarek (an appeal from John’s students),” has been viewed more than 3,500 views as of Monday night. The video expresses what Greyson has taught his former students in addition to petitioning for his return.

Loubani has previously travelled with medical professionals to the same Gaza hospital he and Greyson were travelling to earlier this month. Loubani was there to help train physicians and nurses and Greyson went with him as a filmmaker to observe his work at the hospital.

Close friends and family of the men told CTV news they had no intention of staying in Egypt, and had stopped to ask for directions at a police station when they were detained.

Lynne Yelich, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement on Aug. 29 reiterating the Canadian government’s concern for the two men and calling for their release.