Canadian authorities interrogated Richard Falk, a former UN special rapporteur who investigated Israeli abuses against Palestinians, on "national security" grounds upon his arrival in Canada to attend a Gaza-related event. Falk was traveling alongside his wife, fellow legal scholar Hilal Elver, when they were detained at Toronto Pearson international airport for over four hours.
According to Falk, he and his wife were asked about their work on Israel and Gaza, as well as issues of genocide in general. The questioning process felt "random and disorganised," Falk said, adding that he believes the interrogation is part of a global push to silence those who speak out against Israeli actions.
The incident has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, with Canadian Senator Yuen Pau Woo describing the detention as "appalling" and accusing the government of considering efforts to bring justice to Palestinians as national security threats. The issue is particularly contentious given Canada's long-standing support for Israel and its recent suspension of weapons permits to the ally.
Rights groups have long argued that loopholes in Canada's arms export system allow Canadian-made weapons to continue reaching Israel, often via the United States. Critics argue that this allows Israel to maintain its grip on power while continuing its violent actions against Palestinians in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 260 Palestinians killed in recent Israeli attacks and a severe humanitarian crisis unfolding due to strict curbs on aid deliveries. Richard Falk emphasizes the need to expose the reality of these events, warning that the "genocide is not over." Instead, Israel is allegedly carrying out its genocidal project through more subtle means.
The Canadian government has yet to comment on Al Jazeera's request for clarification on Falk's allegations, leaving many to wonder what exactly prompted the detention of two international human rights experts.
According to Falk, he and his wife were asked about their work on Israel and Gaza, as well as issues of genocide in general. The questioning process felt "random and disorganised," Falk said, adding that he believes the interrogation is part of a global push to silence those who speak out against Israeli actions.
The incident has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, with Canadian Senator Yuen Pau Woo describing the detention as "appalling" and accusing the government of considering efforts to bring justice to Palestinians as national security threats. The issue is particularly contentious given Canada's long-standing support for Israel and its recent suspension of weapons permits to the ally.
Rights groups have long argued that loopholes in Canada's arms export system allow Canadian-made weapons to continue reaching Israel, often via the United States. Critics argue that this allows Israel to maintain its grip on power while continuing its violent actions against Palestinians in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 260 Palestinians killed in recent Israeli attacks and a severe humanitarian crisis unfolding due to strict curbs on aid deliveries. Richard Falk emphasizes the need to expose the reality of these events, warning that the "genocide is not over." Instead, Israel is allegedly carrying out its genocidal project through more subtle means.
The Canadian government has yet to comment on Al Jazeera's request for clarification on Falk's allegations, leaving many to wonder what exactly prompted the detention of two international human rights experts.
canada literally detained a guy just because he spoke out against israeli abuse? it's like they're trying to silence human rights advocates worldwide... newsflash: speaking truth to power ain't no national security threat! 
canada's all about that israel-first policy, and now they're using "national security" as an excuse to shut down criticism. meanwhile, the situation in gaza is a total humanitarian crisis 
with innocent ppl dying left and right... we need more not less transparency & accountability, not more silence & intimidation! 
this is super worrying, they can't just detain ppl who speak out against injustice like that... i mean, canada's supposed to be a country with values like freedom & democracy 
but now it seems like they're more worried about appeasing israel than protecting human rights 
what's the point of having an arms export system if ppl are just gonna get silenced? 
. I mean, what's next? Detaining other activists and scholars who dare to speak truth to power? 
The fact that Canadian Senator Yuen Pau Woo is calling it "appalling" and accusing the government of trying to silence Palestinians makes me even more furious 
! We need to stand with Falk and all those fighting for justice in Gaza 
. This is not just about one person being detained, it's about the entire system that's being used to suppress dissent and silence human rights advocates 
. I'm definitely going to be keeping a close eye on this situation and advocating for Richard Falk and other activists who are fighting against injustice 
!
... I mean, national security grounds, yeah right! It's like Canada is saying "Hey, we love Israel, but you can't speak out against it or you'll get the old 'random and disorganised' interrogation 
. Seriously though, this is super concerning - I mean, who gets detained for questioning their work on Israel? It's like they're saying "Hey, we don't want you speaking out about human rights abuses." Not cool, Canada! Not cool 
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i mean senator yuen pau woo saying it's appalling and that they should be supporting human rights efforts instead of silencing them is so true 
maybe canada should rethink its alliance with israel if it wants to be seen as a supporter of human rights
. It appears Canada is engaging in a veiled campaign of silencing dissenting voices, leveraging its national security pretext to suppress critical discourse on Israeli-Palestinian relations 
I'm really disappointed in this 
. As a human rights advocate, he has every right to express his concerns and opinions about what's going on in Gaza 
. We need more transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to international human rights issues 
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. They were just trying to attend an event related to Gaza, not cause any trouble 
. This kind of treatment sets a bad precedent for anyone who wants to speak out against injustice 
.
. But seriously though, it's super concerning that human rights advocates are being treated this way in Canada. Like, if you speak out against Israel, do you get labeled as a "genocide expert"? Sounds like they're trying to scare them off. Anyway, I'm no expert but it seems like the Canadian government is more interested in protecting its BFF Israel than doing what's right for humanity 
Here are some stats: 
I mean, if Canada wants to be a champion of human rights, then shouldn't they be willing to listen to and learn from international experts like Richard Falk? 
it's not about national security, it's about covering up israeli abuses 
this is so not cool, i hope somethin gets done about it soon 
The situation there is already so dire, and now we're talking about silencing the voices of human rights advocates?