4 Canadians have been executed in China on drug-related prices earlier this yr, Canadian authorities have confirmed.
All of them have been twin residents, and their identities have been withheld upon the request of their households, Canada’s overseas minister Mélanie Joly advised reporters on Wednesday.
She condemned the killings as “irreversible and inconsistent with fundamental human dignity”, including that she had “requested personally for leniency”.
A spokesperson for the Chinese language embassy in Canada stated proof for the Canadian nationals’ crimes was “stable and enough” and urged Canada to “cease making irresponsible remarks”, in response to reviews.
The Chinese language embassy additionally added that Beijing had “absolutely assured the rights and pursuits of the Canadian nationals involved” and urged the Canadian authorities to respect “China’s judicial sovereignty”.
China doesn’t recognise twin citizenship and takes a tricky stance on drug crimes.
Joly stated she had been following the circumstances “very carefully” for months and had tried with different officers, together with former prime minister Justin Trudeau, to cease the executions.
In a press release to Canadian media, World Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod stated Canada had “repeatedly referred to as for clemency for these people on the senior-most ranges and stays steadfast in its opposition to the usage of the demise penalty in all circumstances, in every single place”.
China imposes the demise penalty on severe crimes together with these associated to medication, corruption and espionage. Whereas the variety of executions are saved secret, human rights teams consider China has one of many highest execution charges on the earth.
Nevertheless, it is uncommon for the demise penalty to be carried out on foreigners.
The executions revealed this week have sparked criticisms from campaigners.
“These surprising and inhumane executions of Canadian residents by Chinese language authorities must be a wake-up name for Canada,” stated Ketty Nivyabandi from Amnesty Worldwide Canada. “We’re devastated for the households of the victims, and we maintain them in our hearts as they attempt to course of the unimaginable.”
“Our ideas additionally go to the family members of Canadian residents whom China is holding on demise row or whose whereabouts within the Chinese language jail system are unknown.”
In 2019, Canadian nationwide Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to demise in China for drug smuggling – in a high-profile case that drew condemnation from Canadian authorities. He was not among the many Canadians that have been executed.
“We’ll proceed to not solely strongly condemn but in addition ask for leniency for different Canadians which can be going through related conditions,” Joly stated on Wednesday.
Relations between Canada and China have been icy since 2018 after Canada detained a Chinese language telecom govt, Meng Wanzhou, on a US extradition request. China arrested two Canadians shortly afterwards – although all of them have now been launched.
Earlier this yr, Canadian media launched reviews, many based mostly on leaked intelligence, about detailed claims of Chinese language meddling within the nation’s final two federal elections. China has condemned the reviews, calling them “baseless and defamatory”.
Extra lately, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian farm and meals imports in retaliation for Ottawa’s levies on Chinese language electrical autos, metal and aluminium.
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