Kitchener Family Urgently Seeks Help to Free Detained Father

URGENT UPDATE: A family in Kitchener, Ontario is pleading for immediate federal assistance to free their father, Peter Jola, who has been detained in an Ethiopian prison for nearly six months. The situation has escalated as Jola, a Canadian citizen for over 30 years, faces severe health challenges behind bars.

The family reports that Jola was detained while traveling to South Sudan last March. He was held at an Ethiopian airport for possessing walkie-talkies, which he intended to gift to family and friends. “Initially, he was told he could leave them and pick them up later,” said his daughter, Nyarieni Pal. “But due to conflicting information from border agents, he was taken into custody.”

Pal described her father’s mental state as “completely beside himself” and emphasized the family’s desperation to bring him home. Jola, who turns 68 in November, suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes, and requires a cane, which he does not have access to in prison. “He is not receiving adequate medical treatment,” she added, voicing urgent concerns over potential kidney issues.

The family has reached out to the Canadian Embassy, which has reportedly made only two or three visits to Jola, confirming that he has lost a significant amount of weight. “We are anxious. We need him home,” Pal stated. Despite their efforts, Jola’s court dates keep getting postponed, prolonging their distress.

“We respect the legal process, but we need assurance that he receives proper medical care,” Pal insisted. The Canadian government has acknowledged the situation, with Global Affairs Canada stating they are in contact with Jola and offering consular assistance.

Pal suspects her father’s ethnicity may have influenced his detention, citing ongoing civil tensions in the region. “Ethiopia and South Sudan share a border, and there’s a lot of friction right now. It’s very possible he’s being persecuted for being Nuer,” she expressed, highlighting the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on their family.

In a bid to alleviate the financial burden of legal fees and provide food for Jola, Pal has launched a GoFundMe page. She is calling for anyone with connections to legal experts or public officials who can aid in their fight for her father’s release. “We’ve hit a wall. We’re looking for anyone who can help connect us with powerful resources,” Pal urged.

As the family awaits further developments, they remain hopeful for a breakthrough that will bring Peter Jola back home safely. This urgent plea for help resonates far beyond Kitchener, underscoring the plight of families separated by legal and political challenges in foreign lands.

For updates on this developing story, stay tuned.