New Brunswick protesters rally to bring detained Canadian farmer home from Lebanon

Chanting “Free Henk now” and “Mr. Harper, make the call,” about 100 protesters joined family and friends in a small New Brunswick community Sunday to support ongoing efforts to bring imprisoned potato farmer Henk Tepper home in time for the holidays.

Harmiene Dionne, Tepper’s sister, said the rally was a “great support” for the family.

“I know the community is standing behind us, it’s wonderful to see everyone out here. I know everyone wants to see their friend, their family, their colleague, their community member back in Canada where he belongs,” Dionne said after the march.

Protesters marched through Grand Falls, chanting and waving placards demanding that Tepper be released from the Lebanon prison where he has been detained since March. When the march was completed, the demonstrators gathered around a Christmas tree in the centre of Broadway Boulevard, decorating the fir tree with gold ornaments, tiny burlap potato sacks and yellow ribbons, a longtime symbol of support.

Dionne recently travelled to Lebanon to visit her brother, who was detained by Lebanese officials acting on an Interpol “red alert.” The Algerian government requested the red alert, claiming that the potato producer sold spuds unfit for human consumption to Algeria in 2007.

Tepper has never been charged for any crime, but remains in detention in Lebanon.